Examining the Patriots' current roster, there is a fair argument to be made that few vulnerabilities need to be addressed before the start of the 2025 season. Mike Vrabel and Co. took advantage of their league-high cap space and filled out the defense in free agency, while focusing on the offense during the draft. Those massive improvements leave few holes on a roster that appeared to need years to repair.
However, that doesn't eliminate them from potentially trading for a top-quality player if he becomes available, which might be the case with Falcons' young tight end Kyle Pitts.
Current reporting suggests that multiple teams have reached out to Atlanta about the 24-year-old's availability. Although he hasn't been deemed a trade candidate, the team isn't shutting down the conversation, creating an opportunity for the Patriots to get in touch.
Because of that, they have already been named a potential suitor for Pitts by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, who believes New England makes the most sense of all possible trade destinations given their desire to build a young roster moving forward.
"The New England Patriots, who are building around second-year quarterback Drake Maye, fall directly into this category. While New England does have capable tight ends in Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, both are 30 and will hit free agency within the next two years.
Pitts could become a go-to target for Maye and become a permanent fixture at tight end. New England, which leads the NFL in cap space, would have little trouble signing him to a long-term deal."
Seeing his projected trade makes it an absolute no-brainer as well.
There's no reason for the Patriots not to inquire about a Kyle Pitts trade
Knowing the Patriots have the means to pull off a trade for a player of Pitts' caliber makes it easy to suggest what the deal might entail. Knox puts together a proposal that could yield universal approval from Patriots fans, especially since it would land a player with a high ceiling to work with Drake Maye immediately.
Although it would require sending multiple picks, the Patriots would still receive a young player in return, which has proven to be a key factor in what they're trying to accomplish with the roster, and his veteran experience is invaluable. That's not something you can get out of the draft, nor do top players generally become available in this way, making it harder to argue the Patriots should sit this one out.
Trading Austin Hooper isn't a bad idea, either. While he was a strong part of what the offense did last year, he's not a long-term solution. Trading him to where he began his career while receiving a fifth-year player in return would allow Vrabel to focus on the task at hand, while giving Maye a weapon for years to come.
It looks like we haven't seen the best from Pitts just yet, as he hasn't recorded a 1,000 yard season since his rookie year in 2021. However, he has been a consistent part of the Falcons' offense, particularly over the last two years, and his potential doesn't seem to have been reached just yet.
Knowing that could happen with Maye in 2025 and beyond is exciting enough for the new regime to, at the very least, get on the phone and inquire about a possible trade. Not to mention, pairing Pitts with Hunter Henry would propel the young tight end to new heights, because who could be a better mentor at this stage in his career than Henry?