Patriots: What are the options at wide receiver this offseason?

Go into full “win now” mode by making a major trade

As far as options on the trade market go, the rumored possibilities seem increasingly endless.

Odell Beckham Jr.’s name has been circulating around the Patriots for over a year now. Fans and members of the media have offered differing takes on the idea of OBJ in a New England uniform, but one thing is clear: he could add a level of dynamism to the offense that was absent in 2018. The only real question is, would the off-the-field drama and the massive accompanying contract be worth it?

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are both known to be fond of the 26-year-old superstar wide receiver, but the Patriots typically don’t overpay for that position. It’s also worth noting that their “aggressive” push for Beckham last offseason came before he signed his five-year, $95 million dollar contract extension with $65 million in guaranteed money.

The other big name wide receiver on the trade market is Antonio Brown, of course. The Steelers have already made it known that they prefer not to trade Brown to AFC North rivals or to the Patriots, and would like to send him to the NFC for “competitive reasons.” So perhaps that ship has seemingly sailed, and New England would be wasting their time trying to pursue a trade.

Still, Brown is a generational talent, and the Patriots would be fools not to at least inquire about what it might take to get him.

Some talk about Julio Jones and the Patriots has circulated in the past, though it’s largely quieted down in recent seasons. Brady-to-Jones would be one of the all-time great pairings in the league: Jones’ freak athletic ability and speed, matched with Brady’s knowledge of the game and accuracy. It’s fun to dream of how the two of them would tear up the league together; however, with Jones likely locked in Atlanta for years to come, those dreams are little more than dreams.

All in all, there are many options for the Patriots this offseason to explore when it comes to the wide receiver position. Bill Belichick the G.M. will certainly be contacting agents, players, coaches, and other general managers around the league in the coming months as he continues to tinker with his 2019 roster.

Who do you think the Patriots should go after in the offseason? How do you think they should address the glaring need for help at wide receiver? Let us know in the comments section below!