Intriguing receiver might be the perfect player for Patriots to trade for

As roster cuts are underway before the deadline to make the 53-man roster by Tuesday, August 27, the Patriots are also looking into adding players to the team. They hold the third spot on the waiver wire, allowing them to claim younger players much easier than they have in the past, and they have around $50 million in cap space to spend on new free agents or to acquire players via trade.

Jerod Mayo and VP of player personnel Eliot Wolf have already expressed interest in adding more talent to the team, which seems more relevant after their preseason finale against the Commanders on Sunday Night Football.

Their biggest weaknesses, particularly the offensive line, were on full display in their final matchup, and the hope is that they will be able to bring in players to improve the lineup before the regular season begins.

Because offensive line talent is few and far between, and most teams will hold onto their best lineman tightly, it's unlikely that the quality of talent the Patriots will need will become available. So, they would have to explore potential trade opportunities if any arise.

The same can be said about adding a talented wide receiver, which they have implied their desire to do so. If that's the case, they might want to look at Texans' John Metchie III, a player they liked coming out of college to reunite with Mac Jones, who has spent the first years of his career in Houston.

Since their wide receivers room is crowded, the AFC South team has been fielding calls about Metchie's availability, and it would be wise if the Patriots were one of the teams on the phone.

Second-round receiver could be a great addition to the 2024 Patriots

With a limited number of receivers likely available for trade this season, the Patriots will need to really consider adding a guy like Metchie III. He might not be a Brandon Aiyuk or a CeeDee Lamb (who just locked up an extension with Dallas), but he could be the right boost to a young receiving corps hoping to make Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye's jobs easier this fall.

The Alabama product was a standout throughout college, prompting his selection in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He had the best season of his career in 2021, the year Alabama won the College Championship, recording 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.

He was expected to continue that production with the Texans the following season, but due to a cancer diagnosis, he had to miss his entire rookie season.

Metchie rejoined Houston for the 2023 season, and because they already had some established talent and breakout rookies, he couldn't truly make his mark on the offense. Now that they've added Stefon Diggs into the lineup, he will likely be on the outside looking in, hence his potential trade.

He could be a significant boost to a Patriots receiver room led by DeMario Douglas and Ja'Lynn Polk, with Kendrick Bourne expected to return at some point during the season. The rest of the roster is questionable, as their preseason performances have been quite the roller coaster, so adding Metchie could be the right move.

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