With the official start of the offseason nearing, much of the conversation surrounding the Patriots outside of who will be joining Mike Vrabel's staff has centered around free agency. They will have the most projected cap space to spend to improve the roster before the 2025 NFL Draft, and that means several potential trades could come from it, as well.
There have already been plenty of predictions and trade proposals circulating since the Patriots' 2024 season ended, most of which are to address their lack of WR1, and the latest possibility is no different.
On top of the speculation about trading for A.J. Brown or D.K. Metcalf, there's also the chance of signing Tee Higgins in free agency. Rams WR Cooper Kupp has been thrown into the mix recently, too, as his future in Los Angeles looks far from certain.
But now one of the most infamous players who got away from Bill Belichick during his tenure in New England is back on the radar, as he looks like he might be the odd one out in San Francisco.
Deebo Samuel is another player the Patriots could potentially target this offseason
Adding to the ever-growing list of wide receivers the Patriots would be lucky to have on the roster is now Deebo Samuel. He has been with the 49ers since they drafted him in the second round in 2019, which caught Patriots fans by surprise.
Heading into that draft, Brown and Samuel were the frontrunners to be the next top Patriots receiver, with both having met with the staff and enjoying their visits. Instead, Belichick decided to select ASU receiver N'Keal Harry in the first round, allowing Samuel to fall into the 49ers' lap at pick No. 36.
It has been deemed one of the biggest whiffs of Belichick's career, but the new regime will potentially have a chance to right that former wrong this offseason by trading for Samuel, according to the Boston Herald's Doug Kyed.
"Samuel is not as productive or consistent as Brown at this point in their careers, but he would also immediately become the Patriots’ top pass-catching option.
He hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiving season since 2021, but Samuel still provides versatility as a pass-catcher and ball-carrier, which new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could have some fun with.
A release doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility here. Sending a mid-to-late round pick should be able to get a deal done for Samuel."
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As Kyed pointed out, Samuel has some concerns, but he's still an explosive player who would pair well with Drake Maye. The style of offense will likely come from the return of Josh McDaniels as the play-caller.
He might not be the first option, but the Patriots could easily miss out on acquiring a younger stud like Higgins. Potential trade candidates like Brown and Metcalf might not be available and are just victims of speculation. That could apply to Samuel as well, but he would be worth a call to San Francisco about a deal.