Looking over the list of free agent receivers this offseason, the Patriots had the chance to target some talented players and hope to persuade them to sign with the team for the 2025 season. The focus was squarely on Tee Higgins, who was set to test the free agent market for the first time, only for that opportunity to be squashed before the Patriots even had a chance due to the Bengals placing the franchise tag on him and eventually negotiating a contract extension.
Other options began to sign elsewhere as well, which made it appear that New England would have to actively engage in the trade market to acquire the caliber of player their offense desperately needed, making their league-high cap space even more valuable.
That put players like Cooper Kupp, D.K. Metcalf, and Deebo Samuel on the map, all of whom were reportedly being shopped and could be the Patriots' next WR1. There was a lot of hope among analysts and fans that Metcalf would be the priority, given his impressive production and athleticism, but that desire fell short pretty quickly.
The Seahawks decided to trade Metcalf to the Steelers, who immediately offered him a massive contract extension that the Patriots could have easily matched. It looked like another missed opportunity, until the latest intel about the situation seems to imply that the Patriots dodged a potentially bad situation.
The Patriots missing out on trading for D.K. Metcalf looks like a blessing in disguise
There was considerable disappointment following the Patriots' failure to successfully trade for Metcalf, as he appeared to be the best available option for Drake Maye to utilize as a WR1. It prompted many to believe the team backed off because of the price tag, which had been the initial explanation for their hesitation.
But given the price Metcalf went for, that wasn't the case after all. In fact, according to NBC Sports Boston's Tom Curran, Metcalf didn't want to be traded to the Patriots, and he made that known to Seattle.
According to Patriots insider @tomecurran the Patriots were IN on DK Metcalf this off-season and that Metcalf did NOT want to come to New England pic.twitter.com/5vSwkxR4aU
— Jones & Keefe (@JonesandKeefe) March 25, 2025
This isn't the first time we've heard this about Metcalf, as he seemed to imply his feelings on Foxboro in an interview not long before the trade. Most believed he didn't want to play in another cold climate or pay the high taxes that come with living in Massachusetts, which still might be true. But given he was traded to Pittsburgh, the weather argument certainly isn't accurate.
It seems to confirm that Metcalf really didn't want to be a New England Patriot for whatever reason.
We'll probably never know why, and it's somewhat unfortunate that he ruled them out beforehand. They have a quarterback with Drake Maye, which the Steelers do not, and they have a proven head coach in Mike Vrabel, just like the Steelers do with Mike Tomlin.
On top of that, they could have offered him a substantial payday, but it's clear that he made his feelings known and wasn't interested in joining the six-time Super Bowl champions.
Luckily, it doesn't necessarily matter now, as the Patriots have since signed Stefon Diggs to a three-year deal and now officially have the WR1 they were hoping to get this offseason. He may not possess the size and strength of Metcalf, but Diggs is a proven threat on the football field, and the Patriots' offense has just become a whole lot better with him on the roster.