We’re now fully immersed in the NFL offseason, which means it’s about that time for media outlets to go wild on potential wide receiver finds for the New England Patriots. This has become an unfortunate annual event for Patriots fans over the past five-plus seasons.
This year, the top candidates have been painfully obvious. A.J. Brown has probably been the most popular name, given his history with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee. Brown’s contract isn’t super tradable, as the Eagles would have to eat sizable (and unavoidable) dead-cap charges just to move on from their 28-year-old, No. 1 wide receiver.
In other words, it’s likely not happening. Ditto for the other big-name candidates, like Jordan Addison of the Vikings and George Pickens of the Cowboys. New England could attack the wide receiver position in a variety of ways, and with looming mega extensions for cornerback Christian Gonzalez (as soon as this year) and quarterback Drake Maye (2027), a big financial commitment for an alpha-dog WR1 doesn’t feel like it’s in the cards.
Josh McDaniels’ offense doesn’t exactly function like that, anyway.
It’s fun to dream, but the Patriots are more likely to target second-tier bargains like Rasheed Shaheed or Romeo Doubs in free agency than they are to swing a mega trade for a player like Addison, whose fifth-year option looms in May and would likely covet a multi-year extension as part of the deal.
In reality, Addison isn’t the Vikings' wideout fans should be focusing on. Jalen Nailor, a sixth-round pick who’s been developing under head coach Kevin O’Connell for the past four years, is a pending free agent who’s much more likely to land on the Patriots’ radar. He’s young (26), gets open, catches the football, has a downfield element to his gam, and should be cheap to sign this March.
Jalen Nailor feels like the Patriots’ type in free agency
NESN’s Daniel Fisher pitched Nailor as a potential fit for the Patriots this week, and he may be onto something.
Nailor’s been working as Minnesota’s WR3 behind Justin Jefferson and Addison over the past two seasons. Most notably, he was the ascending young receiver who made K.J. Osborn expendable for Minnesota last offseason, leading to Osborn’s rather awkward (and short-lived) stint with Jerod Mayo’s Patriots.
Eliot Wolf and company clearly saw value in Minnesota’s system under O’Connell, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them target Nailor. He didn’t have monster receiving numbers in 2025, posting 29 catches for 444 yards and four touchdowns.
But Minnesota got some of the worst QB play in football in 2024, and Nailor's efficiency (one drop on 49 targets) and big-play ability (13.1-yard average depth of target) could make him a nice fit for Maye and McDaniels.
Fisher pointed out what could be the most attractive part for the Patriots: Nailor’s projected market value.
“Spotrac recently estimated Nailor's market value at $4.7 million per season, which would be a relatively affordable option for the Patriots. They might consider offering him a one-year deal.”
New England could obviously do better. The team may surprise fans by going all-in on Colts’ wide receiver Alec Pierce during the NFL’s legal tampering window. But the Patriots have two key starters under contract in Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams’ role could grow in Year 2 of his rookie deal. The team could also run it back with Stefon Diggs, who proved he could be a reliable slot receiver in the Patriots’ system during this year's Super Bowl run.
While the big swing has to be tempting, the Patriots are likely more focused on sharpening the edges of the roster and adding depth. That makes Nailor profile as their ideal type in free agency.