For most of the past decade, the Patriots have been linked to several top receivers, whether via free agency or trade, because their offense was seriously lacking. It's a major reason Tom Brady left the team in 2020, as Bill Belichick refused to pay top dollar for the caliber of talent the quarterback wanted and deserved.
Many would argue that New England hasn't had a clear WR1 since Randy Moss last suited up with the team in 2009. Antonio Brown could have been that guy in 2019, but he played only the season opener, and by the time they brought in Stefon Diggs last year, he was widely considered more of a WR2 at that stage of his career.
It all led to the trade for A.J. Brown earlier this summer, but before that, plenty of other receivers have been connected to the team, even since Mike Vrabel took over as head coach last year.
For much of the 2025 offseason, it was Brown, whom the Eagles were clearly not trading yet, and DK Metcalf leading the charge. The longtime Seahawks playmaker seemed like the perfect fit for what the Patriots' offense needed, only to be traded to the Steelers instead.
It looked like a missed opportunity for the Patriots, who didn't land their game-changing pass-catcher until this summer. But based on how Metcalf has fared so far in Pittsburgh, especially over the last two games, it looks like they dodged a bullet by not acquiring him.
Trading for DK Metcalf would have been a disaster for the Patriots' offense
Despite being an absolute weapon for the Seahawks since he was drafted in Round 2 of the 2019 Draft, the same draft that Belichick passed on Brown and Deebo Samuel, Metcalf has struggled since heading to the AFC North, and it doesn't appear that things are getting better with time.
Some argue he's playing with a declining quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, who isn't the same player he once was, and that could be problematic for a superstar receiver.
He hasn't always caught passes from the most talented quarterbacks in his career, but he still thrived until he joined the Steelers.
We saw his worst performance yet when he faced Christian Gonzalez on Sunday, catching 4 of 9 targets for 27 yards. That brings his season total to 8 receptions on 19 targets for 67 yards. He's averaging 3.5 yards per catch and a 29.9 targeted passer rating.
His 2025 season wasn't his most impressive, though he started much better. He finished the year with his second-fewest catches since his rookie season, with 59, and recorded 850 yards, the lowest of his career. He also had just six touchdowns, tied for the fewest in his 8-year career.
If this were the kind of player the Patriots were going to add to their roster, then it certainly looks like a blessing in disguise that Metcalf wrote off going to New England because it was "too cold" there.
Instead, he's playing in the tropical heat of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and struggling to make an impact working with 42-year-old Rodgers, who should have hung up his cleats a few years ago.
There's still plenty of time to turn things around this season, so there's no reason to completely write Metcalf off as a lost cause. However, the Patriots can feel better about waiting another year for the receiver they really wanted, even if he is currently on injured reserve and could miss up to six games.
At least they have the comfort of knowing that the connection between Brown and Maye was clear during training camp and will (hopefully) translate seamlessly once he returns.
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