Looking at the Patriots' receiving corps ahead of the 2026 season, there's not much to complain about after acquiring A.J. Brown, as the group is the best it has been in far too long. Adding the former Eagles' playmaker, along with Romeo Doubs, gives Drake Maye the best group he's had to work with in his NFL career thus far, raising expectations for the upcoming season.
That presumably has them set for the next few years, with Brown and Doubs under contract through 2029, but what if a player unexpectedly became available who would immediately make the roster the best it has been in years?
That's a scenario Garrett Podell of CBS Sports explores with a number of players who might demand a blockbuster trade after seeing Myles Garrett moved to the Rams last month.
More than one should be of the Patriots' interest, particularly wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
The idea of having the chance to trade for a player of his caliber is not something they should overlook or overthink, especially if they still have Brown and Doubs on the roster. If they keep their championship window open, Jefferson's availability would be a no-brainer signing to nearly guarantee a Super Bowl win.
The Patriots have every reason to pull off a Myles Garrett-like trade for this superstar receiver
Although Podell believes that Jefferson wouldn't seek a trade until the 2028 offseason, it's still a scenario the Patriots have every reason to pay close attention to.
Players like Jefferson rarely become available, and considering the kinds of trades we've seen even just this offseason, it's clear that they're becoming less and less off limits, so there's a better chance that he could be traded compared to maybe two years ago.
We've already seen a decline in his production since Minnesota chose not to bring back Sam Darnold and go all-in on J.J. McCarthy. It wasn't necessarily a terrible move, since they didn't view Darnold as the future of their franchise, but it's looking more regrettable now that he's gone on to win a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, and McCarthy might be ousted by Kyler Murray before the 2026 season ends.
Given the uncertainty at the position, and there's more than enough reason to believe it will remain problematic for years to come, it doesn't feel outlandish to suggest Jefferson will eventually want out to not waste his prime years with a team that doesn't have a clear future.
The Patriots could, and should, be willing to inquire about what it would take to get the 4-time Pro Bowler to New England, even if it costs a lot more than they have ever paid for any player. That's how special Jefferson is.
If he continues to perform the way he has, it won't matter that he will be 29 in 2028 and that most of his best years might be behind him. He's already recorded six seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards, has only missed games in 2023, and has shown he can be productive no matter which quarterback is throwing him the football.
His production fell last year, but that can easily be chalked up to an inconsistent quarterback and uncertainty about what kind of performance he would have on game day. It certainly wasn't Jefferson's fault.
Imagining him with Drake Maye and joining Brown and Doubs is almost too good to be true, and maybe it is. But if he does get to a point where he wants out, the Patriots need to be one of the first on the phone about a trade.
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