After finishing with one of the NFL’s worst attacks in 2024, the New England Patriots have a long list of needs they must address on the offensive side of the ball.
Although pretty much every non-quarterback facet of the offense must be addressed, the wide receiver room is one of the Patriots’ most glaring issues.
New England averaged the second-fewest passing yards per game last season and a big part of those struggles stemmed from the team not having a clear-cut No. 1 wideout.
WRs like Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte still have potential, but neither is a game-changing receiver just yet. That’s why one NFL insider is predicting that the Patriots could potentially target two proven playmakers this offseason.
Patriots Rumors: New England to Target DJ Moore, DK Metcalf?
On Sunday, ESPN analyst Ben Solak made predictions for each NFL franchise that has been eliminated from the playoffs.
When it comes to the Patriots chasing WRs, Solak lists the Chicago Bears’ DJ Moore and Seattle Seahawks’ DK Metcalf as “two names that make the most sense.”
While the Patriots will likely have to pay a pretty price to acquire either playmaker, moving a draft pick for a proven pass-catcher shouldn’t be an issue.
“The Patriots won’t mind sending away draft capital for immediate contributors,” Solak wrote. “They plan to trade out of the No. 4 overall pick anyway.”
If returning to the playoffs is the main goal in 2025, the Patriots need to add a receiver as talented as the aforementioned duo. It isn’t a coincidence that New England only has one postseason appearance in the five years since its last 1,000-yard receiver (Julian Edelman, 1,117 in 2019).
Moore, 27, is signed through 2029 as the four-year, $110 million extension he signed with the Bears in July has yet to kick in. Although the ex-Maryland WR missed the 1,000-yard mark this season, he still came close with 98 catches for 966 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games.
As for Metcalf, he’s slated to carry a $31.8 million cap hit before becoming a free agent at the end of the 2025 campaign.
After trade rumors swirled ahead of November’s deadline, the Seahawks could look to move the two-time Pro Bowl receiver after posting a respectable 66-992-5 stat line in 15 appearances.
With over $125.7 million in cap space to spend this offseason, the Patriots can afford to add either Moore or Metcalf in the coming months. Both the Bears and Seahawks could be enticed by a package that includes the fourth-overall pick, especially after each franchise missed the postseason, too.
Even if the Patriots are interested in the duo, a trade might not materialize until closer to the summer.
Teams can usually save money if they wait to pull off trades until after June 1.
That’s the case here as the Bears will save about $7.1 million more if they trade Moore after that date while the Seahawks’ savings will increase from $8.9 million to $20.9 million if they wait five months to move Metcalf, per Spotrac.
The Patriots’ interest in Moore and Metcalf is worth monitoring as the offseason continues. If they can’t land one of the duo, they must find another way to add a legitimate receiving threat — whether that’s via free agency, trade, or the 2025 NFL Draft.
