5 free agent receivers the Patriots can pursue in 2025

One of the presumed focuses of the Patriots' 2024 offseason was to seriously pursue a top receiver to finally bolster their struggling offense. With a new head coach and staff to match, armed with some of the most cap space in the league, it looked like the best opportunity to pull that off, but it didn't exactly go according to plan.

While the new guy calling the shots (Eliot Wolf) regarding the roster made plenty of applaudable moves, signings, and extensions, his effort to bring in a top-quality receiver failed.

The first attempt was with Calvin Ridley, who was leaving the Jaguars after an impressive season, and Wolf offered upward of $22 million to bring him to Foxboro. He ultimately chose to take a million dollars more in a state tax-less state to play for the Titans, which shifted the Patriots' focus to another player.

The pursuit then focused on the disgruntled Brandon Aiyuk, who had been seeking an extension with the 49ers. Because it was reported negotiations weren't picking up between them, Wolf continued to inquire about his availability before, during and after this year's draft.

After being rejected every time, the Niners finally agreed to allow Aiyuk to speak to teams about a trade, opening the door for the Patriots this week to get a deal done. Unfortunately, he showed no interest in coming to New England, despite their alleged $32 million AV, 4-year offer. So the Patriots backed out.

Now that they're back at square one, they can focus on the season ahead and revisit adding a top-name receiver next year if they choose to go that route again. If that's the case, five players would fit the bill.

5 free agent receivers the Patriots can pursue in 2025

1. Tee Higgins

The most obvious choice is Tee Higgins, who, like Aiyuk, has been looking for an extension from his current team. The Bengals don't appear to be interested in doing so, hence franchise tagging Higgins and not continuing negotiations this season, meaning he will become a free agent for the first time in his career in 2025.

He will lead a group of talented players looking for big contracts with new teams, and the Patriots are likely to be one of the strongest pursuers as soon as he becomes officially available. It has been reported that they were interested in trading for him this offseason, only to have been rejected by the Bengals in their efforts.

Fortunately, once he's a free agent, they won't have that issue anymore.

They will be armed with a ton of cap space again next year and have already proven they're willing to pay what it takes to bring in a player of Higgins's caliber. He could be the perfect addition to the receiving corps and help Drake Maye's transition as the team's QB1 much easier.

2. CeeDee Lamb

Like two other players mentioned in this article, CeeDee Lamb has been looking for an extension this offseason and is now holding out of training camp until the Cowboys make him his desired offer.

The 25-year-old has exploded in the NFL since he was selected in the first round of the 2020 draft and has quickly become one of the best receivers in the National Football League. Lamb has recorded over 1,000 receiving yards over the last three seasons, easily becoming Dak Prescott's most trusted target.

But despite his impressive performances, the Cowboys are still not sold on keeping Lamb on the roster beyond the upcoming season. It might be due to the increasing receiver market, which was reset again this offseason by hefty contracts given to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Justin Jefferson.

If that is their main deterrent in signing Lamb to a long-term deal, the Patriots should swoop in for a trade (if he becomes available this year) or partake in a competitive effort to sign him next offseason. They have the money to pay him, a solid corps for him to be a part of, and a young quarterback to play with for years to come; it seems like a good situation to go to.

3. Stefon Diggs

After essentially forcing the Bills to trade him this offseason, Stefon Diggs landed with the Houston Texans and will finish his current contract there this upcoming season. He will be another player to test the free agent market for the first time next spring, which gives the Patriots an excellent opportunity to pursue a trusted veteran to help give Maye a solid offense.

Diggs was the receiver that catapulted Josh Allen into superstardom when the Vikings traded him to Buffalo in 2020. The Patriots could do the same thing for Maye in his likely first year as the team's official starter, and Diggs would put their offense back on the map ASAP.

He has now strung together six seasons in a row, recording over 1,000 receiving yards and averaging nine touchdowns a year, all of which is far more than what the Patriots weapons have been able to do over the last several years.

Although the Patriots staff might be hesitant to bring in a potentially problematic player, as Diggs has had dramatic fallouts with both teams he's been on, it's hard to deny the talent upgrade he would be for the offense.

4. Amari Cooper

Amidst the constant rumors surrounding Brandon Aiyuk's potential trade destination, the Browns have been a team in the mix and are rumored to include Amari Cooper in their effort to acquire the current 49ers receiver.

Despite Cooper's impressive play since he was traded to Cleveland from Dallas, the Browns allegedly view Aiyuk as a more desirable player for their offense moving forward. If that's the case, Cooper could inevitably be on his way to the NFC West. However, he still has just one year left on his contract, making him a free agent next year.

The Patriots could consider Cooper their next WR1 target and pursue him in free agency. He is a proven talent, with seven of ten seasons recording over 1,000 receiving yards, and has shown no signs of slowing down despite any concerns surrounding his age.

He has put together some of his most impressive statistical seasons since playing for the Browns, and he could easily continue that as the face of the Patriots receiving corps, especially with a young quarterback and pass-catching teammates who look like they will defy expectations this upcoming season.

And it looks like Cooper might be ready to leave Cleveland...

5. Brandin Cooks

If the Patriots want to add a familiar face who should have remained with the team beyond just one season, then Brandin Cooks could be their guy.

The wildly talented 30-year-old has shockingly played for five teams during his ten-year career despite consistently being a reliable weapon for any quarterback he has played with.

He most recently played for the Cowboys and the Texans, neither of which put him at the top of the depth chart. If he wants to be that guy for a team in the future, he could take on that role in New England, as he did during the 2017 season.

Adding Cooks to a receiving corps that will consist of Kendrick Bourne, Javon Baker, Ja'Lynn Polk, and DeMario Douglas would be one of the better groups the Patriots have had in quite some time.

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