Because the Commanders were recently in town to face the Patriots in the first preseason game of the season, there was a heightened interest in disgruntled receiver Terry McLaurin. He remains away from the team as he continues to hope for a contract extension, which the Patriots have been rumored to be watching closely.
They are in a good position to pull off a blockbuster move if they want to add the 30-year-old to their offense and pair him with Stefon Diggs, as they could offer a second-round pick for starters, and maybe throw in more picks or a player to sweeten the deal. On top of that, they have the cap space to take on his current salary and offer him the money he's looking for.
Eliot Wolf made it clear the Patriots were willing to dish out the kind of contract needed to bring in a player of McLaurin's caliber during the 2024 season with his offer to Brandon Aiyuk, who was also looking for an extension with the 49ers.
They will need to offer something similar to obtain McLaurin, and there are some good deals to consider. But the latest suggestion from MMQB's Albert Breer should be an automatic no.
If the Patriots want to trade for Terry McLaurin, this is not the deal to offer
With no updates regarding the status of McLaurin receiving a new contract from the Commanders, there is still plenty of speculation that he will be dealt before the season begins.
Although Washington has repeatedly stated they don't want to move on from the receiver, which might be more relevant now that their current pass catchers aren't looking too great, the Patriots could still make them reconsider with a sizeable offer, which is what Breer suggests.
However, knowing that they'd have to throw in a player, he mentions Stefon Diggs, probably because he would garner the most value. But he has been the go-to weapon for Drake Maye, and it would make little sense to give up on him before he even takes a snap just to get McLaurin in the building.
“One thought I did have, and this is just -- I don’t want to see a ‘report’ on this or anything else -- but if you were the Patriots, would you consider trading Stefon Diggs and a second-round pick there?
If you look at the idea of that, Stefon Diggs is from DC, right? So that would be a homecoming for him. And it would give the Commanders some more financial flexibility with the contract that Stef has. It would give them the extra piece of draft capital. And then the Patriots would have a receiver that you can build around for the next few years.”
In theory, it might sound good and all parties involved might be happy. But that doesn't negate the fact that this would be a wild trade.
There is a reason the Patriots brought in Diggs, and he has already been flourishing in New England since he arrived. And it's not just on the field; he's already become a leader in the locker room and is reportedly mentoring some of the younger talent, while also motivating those around him.
Although McLaurin would be a significant addition, it would be even better if the Patriots were able to add him to the current roster while also keeping Diggs, as that would ultimately put the offense over the top and give Maye explosive weapons for several years.
Anything other than that doesn't seem like a good idea.