The Patriots' inability to get top-tier wide receivers in the door for the past decade or so remains a topic that lingers going into every offseason, and it's no different in 2026. Although they have assembled their best team in many years, led by Stefon Diggs, there is still room for improvement, particularly given Drake Maye's growth as a quarterback.
That leaves many questions about the future of many on the current roster, with Diggs at the forefront, and has many analysts and fans hoping to see Mike Vrabel and Co. make a big-time move this offseason.
Besides the consistent desire to see AJ Brown in a Patriots uniform, the latest player to become the fixation of Patriot Nation is George Pickens, who is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career in just a few weeks.
There are rumors that the Cowboys have no intention of letting him go and are leaning toward franchise-tagging him rather than agreeing to an extension, which makes the Patriots' chances of pulling off a trade slimmer, but not impossible.
Regardless of whether he becomes a free agent or not, there is a good reason to suggest that the franchise that infamously passed on him in the 2022 draft for Tyquan Thornton can right a longtime wrong this offseason.
George Pickens continues to be the top-name Patriots' fans want to see signed (or traded for) in free agency
Because free agency is set to begin in just a few weeks, plenty of predictions are starting to make the rounds online, and for the Patriots, that means a lot of hype around who they could sign to make the biggest splash.
The top target remains Pickens, who is coming off the best season of his career with the Cowboys, recording 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, and how impactful he could be for their offense with Maye.
There are even mock drafts including a potential trade if Dallas decides to franchise tag him for just over $28 million, with the Patriots sending a second-round pick (No. 63) to acquire the wide receiver.
Considering the list of names set to hit free agency, it's looking increasingly like the Patriots will have to pull off a monster trade to get the caliber of talent that their offense needs, and this would be one way to get that done.
Pickens is an impressive talent at just 24 years old and could be the receiver the Patriots have to pair with Maye for years to come. He's proven he can be the go-to guy and be the WR1 that has long averted New England, so this is their chance to finally get that position squared away well ahead of a very telling 2026 season.