Loaded with the most cap space to spend during the 2025 free agency, the Patriots will have plenty of opportunity to make big moves to improve their roster. There are a lot of holes that need to be dealt with, but most are focused on the offense to help build a better team around quarterback Drake Maye.
That means finding quality offensive linemen and more talented receivers are at the top of the list, with some interesting candidates to consider.
There has been a lot of talk surrounding Tee Higgins, who is expected to become a free agent for the first time in his career, as long as the Bengals don't follow what they did last year by franchise tagging him instead. He has been on the Patriots radar over the past two years, becoming the favorite amongst the fans.
But if he's not interested, there may be a trade scenario the Patriots could look into for a disgruntled receiver in Pittsburgh.
He made his feelings known after the Steelers lost to the Ravens during Wild Card weekend, which inevitably makes George Pickens a new trade target for the Patriots to address their less-than-ideal receiving corps.
George Pickens becomes an intriguing trade candidates for the Patriots
With so many teams dealing with questionable quarterbacks heading into this offseason, it's not surprising that many offensive players have expressed their frustration with the current outlook of their team.
That's how Pickens feels about the state of the Steelers, which he made clear to reporters after their loss on Saturday. Given that they are far from having a consistent quarterback under center, with both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson heading for free agency and neither being impressive during the 2024 season, Pickens is not exactly optimistic about where the offense stands.
George Pickens says he has seen growth from the offense since he’s been with the Steelers, but admits he’s not optimistic of the offense going forward. #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/ss4BaU49sZ
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) January 12, 2025
The 23 year old has been impressive through his first three years in the NFL, 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns. He totaled 1,000 yards in 2023 and lead the league with 18.1 yards per catch, an impressive feat considering the quarterbacks he has had to work with over the years.
He could be a great addition to the roster for Maye, especially since the Patriots have needed an outside player like Pickens for a few years now. At 6-foot-3, he would immediately become the tallest on the team, too, making him more of a vertical threat for the quarterback to work with.
If the Patriots are interested, it might not take too much in a trade to get a deal done, despite Pickens being a former second-rounder. He is not widely considered a top player at the position, mainly due to the quarterbacks he has played with, and could be an easy offer for New England with a high return.