Even after bringing in Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins on multi-year deals earlier this offseason, the New England Patriots’ wide receiver room is still very much a work in progress.
There’s real potential here—no question about it. DeMario 'Pop' Douglas has juice, Kayshon Boutte has shown flashes, and both Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker are intriguing, high-upside, second-year players. But potential only gets you so far in a division now led by Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. If the Patriots are going to flirt with a playoff spot this season, that young core is going to have to turn the corner fast.
The fourth overall pick gives New England some options—maybe it’s a tackle like Missouri's Armand Membou or LSU's Will Campbell, or maybe it’s a dynamic weapon like Arizona's Tet McMillan. Either way, expect another name added to the receiver mix before it’s all said and done.
Still, even before the draft, the group might have already caught a break—potentially twice a year, as a matter of fact.
Patriots could catch a break with shocking Jalen Ramsey trade news
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Miami Dolphins and Jalen Ramsey are “mutually set to explore trade options,” with a parting of ways very much on the table for 2025. That’s big. Ramsey has been a nightmare matchup for receivers since being drafted—and his potential exit could open a small but important window for this young group of Patriots receivers to breathe.
Ramsey’s never exactly made life easy for anyone. He’s physical, he’s loud, and more often than not, he’s in the right place at the right time.
Even in a “down year” by his standards—no fifth-straight Pro Bowl appearance—Ramsey still held his own. He started every game, posted 60 tackles, grabbed two picks, and played a major role in Miami finishing top five in passing yards allowed. Without him, New England’s young receivers would face one less elite matchup twice a year. That makes life a little easier, and suddenly, you’re not asking them to be perfect just to move the chains.
Of course, this isn’t just a football decision for Miami. It’s a financial one too.
Ramsey is due $25.1 million this year, though Miami’s already paid out a $4 million bonus. That leaves any trade partner on the hook for $21.1 million—ironically, about the same figure the Pats committed to Carlton Davis. It’s a hefty number, but not impossible for a contender trying to shore up their secondary. Miami, on the other hand, could be looking to clear space and recoup picks before the draft.
If a deal goes down, don’t expect New England to jump into the sweepstakes—but do expect them to quietly smile if Ramsey’s no longer wearing orange and teal by September.
There’s no guarantee this young receiver group is ready to take the leap. But if you’re betting on development, it helps to remove one of the NFL’s most consistent disruptors from the equation. Any bit of relief helps in an AFC East still sorting itself out behind the Bills.
The Patriots still have plenty to prove. But with Ramsey potentially out of the picture, at least one of the hurdles just got a little lower.