Ranking best possible Patriots pre-draft trade options

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Jan 15, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) runs after a catch in the third quarter of the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

Two Patriots wide receivers who can be traded before 2022 NFL Draft

The Patriots’ current offense includes two wide receivers who could be trade bait. One is obvious, while the other is not so obvious. The not-so-obvious choice is possession receiver Jakobi Meyers. Meyers is a solid number two receiver. He is playing this season on a second-round tender, which indicates that he is valued by the Patriots.

Meyers caught 83 passes in 2021, leading the team in receptions. That’s an excellent production and he may be the apple of some team’s eye (Hello, Las Vegas Raiders and Josh McDaniels!). As such, Meyers is the Patriots’ best opportunity to land a premium pick in this season’s draft by trading a player.

Meyers will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. Having acquired DeVante Parker and with Kendrick Bourne onboard, they can afford to trade Meyers for a minimum of a third-round pick. That would be contingent on one thing: that the team drafts a top wide receiver with either its first or second-round pick.

Drafting a No. 1 receiver and an offensive tackle early will basically make the offense whole. Getting a second-rounder (they may have to throw in a fourth or fifth-rounder to get that) or a third-rounder and maybe a later pick for Meyers would provide additional draft capital to fill the myriad holes on defense. They can draft another wide receiver later to provide competition.

Trading your statistically best wide receiver from any previous season is risky. Yet, if the Patriots don’t intend to pay him next year, it’s better to cut ties early, get a premium pick, and use that pick to draft defense.

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