The Patriots go into Day 2 of the NFL Draft with plenty of needs left to be addressed, with adding another impressive wide receiver being among the priorities in the minds of the fans. They have a solid chance to select one of the top players of the class with the No. 38 pick, as names like Luther Burden III, Jayden Higgins, and Jaylin Noel remain on the board.
The problem is that they also desperately need a star pass rusher for the defense, and passing on those available in Round 2 might not be a wise choice since their next pick won't be until No. 69. That would limit their options and essentially eliminate the possibility of adding a starter, making the decision much more difficult.
Fortunately, there might be a solution that still allows them to address both needs in the right way.
Because the Patriots have two third-round picks, they could easily use those (and more) to trade up to get a pass rusher they desire. They could also look into potential trades for wide receivers with the picks they'll use on Friday night, with a frontrunner taking over in the hours leading to the start of the second round.
The Patriots could pull off a masterful trade for a quality wide receiver during tonight's draft
If adding a game-changing receiver is part of Mike Vrabel's plan, there's an opportunity to get on the phone with the Pittsburgh Steelers about the availability of George Pickens.
The 24-year-old has been a big part of speculation regarding a potential trade this offseason, as the Steelers appear uninterested in offering him a contract extension beyond the 2025 season. That explains why The Athletic's Dianna Russini revealed teams have been on the phone to inquire about Pickens' availability, which could be a sign for the Patriots to make the call, too.
The Steelers have been receiving calls about the availability of WR George Pickens, per sources.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 25, 2025
Pittsburgh is open to conversations as it navigates Friday night without a second-round pick (traded for DK Metcalf). pic.twitter.com/BZa9ubyd4z
Related: Jerod Mayo robbed Patriots of making franchise-altering trade
Although there may be some character issues to be concerned about with Pickens, his production is inarguable, and his addition to the receiving corps would be a tremendous step in the right direction, especially after adding Stefon Diggs in free agency.
Over the past three years with the Steelers, Pickens has proven he can be a viable weapon with the right quarterback, displaying that despite the revolving door of signal callers he's had to play with since entering the NFL. Pairing him with Drake Maye would guarantee the Patriots another playmaker for the young quarterback to work with, a goal the new regime has emphasized they want to accomplish this offseason.
Pickens would bring that kind of production to Foxboro, as he has already recorded 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns since 2022. He even led the league in 2023 for the most yards per catch with 18.1, a statistic that blows away every receiver on the Patriots' current roster.
If Vrabel and Co. can get a fair deal out of the Steelers, it would be an intriguing trade to get done that immediately checks off a big need offensively. Pickens' age and current contract make the situation even better, as he's still being paid like a rookie. They could even test him out on a one-year rental and then decide if he's worth an extension, making the move less risky for the right price.
The price will be the main issue, though. The Steelers don't have a second-round pick right now because of their trade for D.K. Metcalf, so they might be hoping to get that in return, and that's not necessarily something New England should be willing to give up.
Swinging one of their third-rounder and maybe a 2026 pick would be far more ideal and would be difficult for fans to be upset about, given the talent that Pickens adds to the roster.