Patriots can easily afford Davante Adams' reported trade price (but shouldn't do it)

Historically speaking, top-of-the-league wide receivers don't typically become available as often as they have in the NFL over the last two seasons. Most teams want to hold onto their best players for as long as possible or however long it makes sense, but that hasn't been the case with a handful of the league's best pass catchers in recent years.

It works in favor of receiver needy teams like the Patriots to finally get their hands on the talent they haven't been able to acquire on their own, but it doesn't mean they're always worth the price depending on what the plans are for the team's roster building and development.

That's the position New England is in with the news of Davante Adams requesting a trade from the Raiders earlier this week. While it creates another opportunity to trade for the kind of receiver they have made clear they want on the roster, Adams doesn't fit the mold of what they should be looking for.

While they can afford to bring in Adams if they choose to, according to the compensations the Raiders are reportedly asking for, it's not a move the Patriots should make right now.

Davante Adams would be a great addition to the roster, but not in 2024

The Patriots' new regime made their wide receiver preferences known this year by heavily pursuing Calvin Ridley in free agency and Brandon Aiyuk via trade. Both are under 30 and have limited injury history, with more years left in the league than behind them.

They proved willing to pay the price it would take to acquire some of the best-receiving talents in the NFL, making it obvious they would likely be open to paying the reported second-round pick to trade for Adams.

The problem with that, however, is that Adams doesn't fit the direction the Patriots are trying to move in during this new era. There is a significant focus on drafting and developing the talent needed for the team, so trading for an almost 32-year-old receiver counteracts that mindset.

On top of that, they're set to get reinforcements in the return of Kendrick Bourne as soon as Week 5, which should be a significant boost to the offense's production, which has been lackluster through the first four games.

Bourne might not be Adams, who is still one of the best in the league and would be the immediate WR1 on the Patriots roster. But giving up a second-rounder and more to acquire a 32-year-old instead of using the pick on younger talent that can be coached and developed to be with the team for the foreseeable future isn't a bright idea.

He would certainly be an immediate help and could have a few good years left before retiring, but if the Patriots plan to draft and build the roster for the future with many draft picks, then inquiring about Adams doesn't make sense.

Instead, the Patriots' defense will likely have to deal with shutting him down, as the Jets remain the frontrunners to acquire him.

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