There was a lot of talk going into this offseason that the Patriots would use their league-high cap space to pull off a blockbuster trade or two to bolster the roster in the way they desperately needed it. For the most part, it seemed they would have to do that for the offense if they wanted to add a high-caliber wide receiver, especially since most of those heading to free agency were not particularly exciting.
But as the weeks went on, the new regime didn't appear any closer to getting a deal done, which eventually led to the signing of Stefon Diggs. There has been some chatter that Mike Vrabel and Co. could still look into a big-time trade, which has only been furthered after NFL insider Jeremy Fowler revealed they had inquired about a trade for Ravens' receiver Rashod Bateman.
How trade talks helped spark a Rashod Bateman extension in Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/5sQfD8beY4
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 7, 2025
Because it appears that Baltimore allowed Bateman to gauge his value by allowing him to explore a trade, only to inevitably re-sign him, the Patriots didn't have a legitimate chance to get him in the door.
However, this seems to imply that the Patriots might not be done adding to their roster ahead of the 2025 season, which works well considering they still have around $60 million in cap space to use.
A failed trade for an explosive receiver might be a sign that the Patriots are still active in the trade market
While a trade for a player like Bateman might not excite Patriots fans, the notion that the team has been actively exploring the trade market should, especially since they are reportedly looking to add more to the offense.
There is a fair argument to be made that they might not need to add more firepower for Maye to work with, given who they've added this offseason and the expectations of the offense. However, they have the draft capital and cap space to pull something off should someone become available, and if they were willing to give some of that up for a player like Bateman, there's a chance they will be willing to do the same for someone else.
Now, who that might be is hard to say. Bateman is a stellar player, but has not recorded 1,000 yards receiving since joining the league as a first-round draft pick in 2021. But the 25-year-old has been a reliable option for Lamar Jackson to work with, on top of being a versatile player who has the skillset to line up anywhere on offense and make explosive plays.
This point was furthered by Chris Godwin, who revealed that the Patriots offered him a contract in free agency that would have paid him $30 million per season. He ultimately turned it down to remain with the Buccaneers, but it proves that New England is willing to offer the money it takes to acquire the quality of talent they want on offense.
That leaves the door open for the Patriots to trade for numerous receivers if any flashy names become available. It's what has them considered a potential suitor for a player like Terry McLaurin, who is currently in a standoff with the Commanders over wanting an extension.
He would be far more expensive than a player of Bateman's caliber, but since we don't know what the Patriots were willing to offer the Ravens for him, there's a chance they would be open to the price tag it would take to acquire McLaurin.
Regardless, it's a good sign that Vrabel is still looking to improve the roster this offseason rather than being fully content with who they already have. It's still early enough in the offseason for Maye to have the benefit of working with more talent, so we'll just have to wait and see if they pull the trigger on that over the summer.