October is that time of year during the NFL season when trade rumors circulate through the wind, through social media, and sometimes through locker rooms. Rumors that A.J. Brown is unhappy in Philadelphia, for example, have New England Patriots fans dreaming of seeing the Eagles' receiver in red, white and blue.
But often times, the best deals are the ones you never make. Patriots' quarterback Drake Maye is clearly comfortable with the guys he's throwing to — the numbers don't lie — and while upgrading a position group in-season may look good on paper, it can be a bad idea to mess with chemistry.
Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels seems to believe so. In addressing the media on Thursday, McDaniels noted that he loves New England's current crop of pass-catchers, and that Maye has developed strong chemistry with guys like Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte.
Maye has gotten endorsements from the likes of Tom Brady, and even during the Patriots' dynasty days, the team rarely made in-season trades for receivers. When they did — hello, Mohammed Sanu — it turned out to be a terrible decision.
The 2025 New England Patriots should ride it out with this core group of wide receivers
McDaniels noted that the big thing about this wide receiver group is the unselfishness, and that reflects in their stats. Diggs leads the Patriots in catches (32) and yards (387), and while he has yet to find the end zone, that doesn't matter so long as the team wins.
Sounds like the old Patriot Way, doesn't it?
Every receiver has developed a different style of chemistry with Maye, which is what needed to happen in order for the second-year quarterback to take the next step. Boutte has proven to be a great clutch receiver — see his catches in big moments in last week's win in New Orleans — while tight end Hunter Henry has been a viable combination of a security blanket and red-zone threat.
The way McDaniels spoke in his press conference, Patriots' fans shouldn't hold their breath for the team to make a big splash at the wide receiver position at the trade deadline.
Riding the horses you have to the finish line may prove to be the sweet spot for New England to win the AFC East.