The NFL trade deadline is right around the corner, and the Patriots are among the several teams expected to be involved in making a deal or two, specifically to bring in new players. There was a good chance that wouldn't be the case, but since they have been playing well and are atop the AFC East, Mike Vrabel and Co. might be looking to improve the roster to remain competitive this season.
There are certainly a few positions to consider improving, and the latest rumor from a known anonymous insider, Rickey Scoops, suggests the Patriots might already be looking into adding a wide receiver to help Drake Maye be as successful as possible.
Although Rickey is not an accredited affiliate of the NFL like Ian Rapoport or Adam Schefter, so we should take this rumor less concretely, he has a history of being right and well ahead of the curve, so there is a chance he's onto something.
The #Patriots have been on the phone with teams and are aggressively looking to trade for a WR before the deadline. Sounds like Drake Maye may be getting another weapon #NEPats pic.twitter.com/W9YpjG9uxa
— Rickey (@RickeyScoops) October 15, 2025
Considering this is something fans have wanted, it wouldn't be the worst thing if Rickey is correct (again) this time.
The Patriots have a few options at wide receiver if they want to improve their offense
For the last few weeks, there have been a lot of rumors surrounding the potential trade availability of Eagles' receiver AJ Brown. The Patriots have been connected to him since he was drafted, mostly because Bill Belichick infamously passed on him and others in favor of picking N'Keal Harry.
His connection to Vrabel, who drafted him to the Titans when he was the head coach, and his opposition to Brown being traded to the Eagles make him a potential target for the Patriots, even if there is a slim chance he is traded this year.
Other names that have been floated around recently include Saints' Chris Olave, who could be a great addition to the roster due to his age and explosive play ability, and Raiders' Jakobi Meyers, who went to Las Vegas to play for Josh McDaniels after New England chose to sign JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Any of these players would be a boost to the offense, even if the receiving corps has seemed to be clicking recently. That should be taken into account, however, especially since there aren't many receivers available for trade that would necessarily dramatically improve the unit from what it is now.