The trade market is heating up, and Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports believes the New England Patriots are preparing for a “blockbuster” move. Following the short-lived Jerod Mayo Era, New England has their franchise quarterback in UNC’s Drake Maye. Unfortunately, that’s all they have, as the team possesses the worst offensive line and pass-catching talent in the room. Maye thrived despite the atrocious surroundings, but the organization knows they can’t waste Maye’s potential with a flawed roster.
The #Patriots, with the most cap space by far, are set to be aggressive—especially at WR. They tried last year but fell short. With Drake Maye, they should have an easier time attracting talent and are willing to spend, whether through free agency or a blockbuster trade. pic.twitter.com/TY4htYn02k
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 3, 2025
While Schultz’s tweet doesn’t name any specific target, it’s safe to assume New England is shooting for the stars. Last year, the team aggressively pursued Calvin Ridley as a free agent and Brandon Aiyuk on the trade deadline but ultimately couldn’t get anything done with either player. In both cases, the receivers didn’t want to join New England largely due to their uncertain quarterback position. With Maye flashing top-10 promise as a rookie in a disastrous environment, New England should be able to secure top talent. The only question is, who will they target?
REPORT: Patriots Aiming For Wide Receiver In Blockbuster Trade
Free Agent Options
With Tee Higgins receiving the franchise tag, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin is far and away the biggest name set to hit the open market. Perhaps he makes it to free agency, but the Buccaneers have every reason to extend the wide receiver before the start of the league year. Thanks to the void years on his previous contract, Tampa Bay will incur a $19 million dead cap hit if he doesn’t play for the team in 2025. This means that, in all likelihood, it’s more expensive for the Buccaneers to lose Godwin than re-sign him.
Outside of Godwin, the best free agents on the market are older veterans like Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, and DeAndre Hopkins. While these players would improve New England’s wide receiver room, they wouldn’t dramatically move the needle. If the Patriots are intent on making a blockbuster move, it will probably be a trade.
Possible Trade Targets
The biggest name on the trade market is probably Brandon Aiyuk. The Patriots showed interest in trading for him last year, but the feeling was not mutual. However, that could change now that Maye is in town and New England has a proven head coach in Mike Vrabel. While Foxboro’s weather cannot compare to San Francisco, the Patriots would allow Aiyuk to continue earning a massive payday while catching passes from (potentially) one of the game’s top quarterbacks. Even though the 49ers just traded Deebo Samuel, reports indicate they’d still be open to trading Aiyuk for the right price.
Cooper Kupp falls in the same category as guys like Cooper, Diggs, and Hopkins. He’s a big name, but his best years are behind him. The Patriots could trade for the 31-year-old, but would that really be a blockbuster move?
New England is rebuilding, so they could target a young wide receiver like Chris Olave. One of the biggest high-risk, high-reward options on the trade market, the former first-round pick is fantastic when healthy but has suffered four concussions during his short NFL career. With quarterback Derek Carr returning for another season, Olave could try and force his way out of this strained relationship. If that happens, New England should be calling as they attempt to acquire a player who could be Maye’s go-to receiver for years on end.
Main Photo: Bob Donnan – Imagn Images
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