Divisional trades pinpoint 2025 free agent receiver for Patriots to sign

The AFC East dominated the news cycle on Tuesday, as both the Bills and Jets made significant trades to boost their offensive rosters after disappointing starts to the 2024 season. The division has been struggling collectively through the first month, and the expected leaders of the East were not willing to accept mediocrity anymore with these moves.

The Jets were the first to make a move with the least shocking trade of the century; the Raiders were sending receiver Davante Adams to New York to reunite with his former quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It was a deal that was predicted as soon as Adams was granted a trade, and now Rodgers will have his guy again after suffering a brutal loss to the Bills on Monday Night Football.

Although Buffalo has had a more successful season in comparison, they're still not performing at the level they were hoping to so far this year. That has been apparent in their recent stretch of games, which led them to trade for receiver Amari Cooper from the Browns on Tuesday. Josh Allen will now have a hopeful Stefon Diggs replacement and get back on track to accomplishing their Super Bowl dreams a reality.

All these panic trades took place as the Patriots began to accept the 2024 season, despite their fans complaining about their lack of interest in acquiring either receiver before their rivals could.

But not trading for Adams or Cooper, just points to who their likely free agent focus will be next offseason: Tee Higgins.

It's more clear than ever that the Patriots will focus on signing Tee Higgins in 2025

With all the exuberant extensions on receivers this offseason and now the latest trades, the Patriots were going to be limited in their options for a veteran receiver next offseason. Their failed pursuits of Calvin Ridley, who signed with the Titans, and Brandon Aiyuk, who re-signed with the 49ers, were disappointing, but most shifted their focus to next year's free agency class for hope.

The headliners are expected to be Stefon Diggs, Chris Godwin, and Tee Higgins, all of whom would be great additions to the Patriots roster.

But based on their needs, their new perspective on roster building, and the best fit moving forward, it's clearer than ever that Higgins will be their primary target once free agency begins next year.

The Patriots have already been connected to the 25-year-old over the past two years, as the Bengals have been seemingly uninterested in extending the receiver with a long-term contract. Instead, they let him play out his rookie contract and franchise tagged him this offseason, which he was not happy about.

If that remains the case next year, which is entirely possible, the Patriots could offer him the contract he is looking for, and he would immediately become the team's long-awaited WR1. It's an ideal scenario, especially going into next year's draft, allowing them to prioritize improving the offensive line in the early rounds and not be as concerned about snagging one of the best receivers instead.

It feels like a win-win situation for all involved, especially if Higgins is looking for a payday rather than winning a championship immediately. He would have a young head coach and promising quarterback and would immediately be the top guy on the depth chart, which he hasn't had much of an opportunity to do since being with the Bengals.

Plenty can change between now and then and disrupt this (potential) plan, but the path seems clear, at least right now.

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