Imagine the perfect world where the Patriots could steal players away from their biggest rivals in the AFC East without any issue.
Wouldn't that be great?
Unfortunately, we don't live in a time where that is possible except when discussing an alternate reality where it is!
The AFC East has always had a lot of talent on every team, even if those teams weren't always the most competitive. And as the division has grown and improved over the last handful of years, so have the players each team has added to their roster.
Because of that, there are limitless options when contemplating the best players to steal from each team, especially given the needs of the Patriots team heading into the 2023 season.
Let's address both sides of the football and choose those who would make an immediate impact upon arrival and, with two of the choices, insert more youth and speed onto the team.
Buffalo Bills - Von Miller (LB)
The most obvious player most would want to steal from the Bills would 1000% be Stefon Diggs, and who could blame them?
But there are quite a few incredibly talented receivers in the division, making it a bit easier to bypass Diggs in order to snag an experienced and proven pass rusher like Von Miller.
Sure, his age will likely turn some Patriots fans away from agreeing with this choice, but even at 33 years old last season, he still managed to total 21 combined tackles, eight sacks, ten tackles for a loss, and 12 quarterback hits in just 11 games.
That is still pretty good, is it not?
As the team stands, the Patriots have had just one player to rely entirely on as a pass rusher, Matthew Judon. The 2022 season did see the rise of Josh Uche, who totaled a career-high in sacks with 11.5 in 15 games, and Deatrich Wise Jr., who added 7.5 more sacks for the defense as well.
But with consistency issues from Judon, whose performance tends to dramatically slow down near the end of the season, and the uncertainty of Uche and Wise's continued success in getting to the quarterback, the addition of Miller would be the ultimate insurance package.
Since the Patriots intend to continue being a team led by their defense, Miller's presence alongside Judon would create a quarterback's worst nightmare.
Now how can we make this happen?
Miami Dolphins - Jaylen Waddle (WR)
This choice may come as a shock, considering his teammate is Tyreek Hill, but in an effort to bring in younger stars that will provide longevity to the Patriots, it makes the most sense to go with 24-year-old Jaylen Waddle.
His age wasn't the only leading factor, though.
His familiarity with catching passes from Mac Jones at Alabama is just as valuable, if not more. And it doesn't hurt that Waddle chose Jones as his preferred college quarterback over Tua Tagovailoa either.
The pair had a phenomenal season together in 2020, Jones's last season before entering the NFL draft. The quarterback had the best year of his college career, ending the season with 41 touchdowns, 4,500 yards, and a 77.4% completion. Waddle also had a standout season, totaling 28 receptions for 591 yards, four touchdowns, and averaging 21.1 yards per catch.
Now move that onto an NFL field, and we could see how much better the two could become since that National Championship winning season.
Since the Patriots' receiving corps appears in flux right now, Waddle would be an instant boost and the WR1 Bill Belichick has been looking for. The chemistry he has already created with the quarterback and his two impressive 1,000-yard seasons in his first years in the NFL would be an epic addition.
If only it could actually happen, though.
New York Jets - Sauce Gardner (CB)
The Patriots' secondary may not be a unit that needs a lot of help right now, especially with the addition of Christian Gonzalez via the draft earlier this year. But passing on the opportunity to take Sauce Gardner from the Jets would be a regrettable mistake.
The 22-year-old cornerback has just one season under his belt, yet has already earned the rights to call himself an All-Pro, a Pro Bowler, and the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In his first season in New York, Gardner started all 17 games and began to build his impressive resume quickly, totaling 75 combined tackles, three tackles for a loss, two interceptions, and 20 passes defended.
Adding him to the Patriots' secondary would ensure a continued effort to create a youthful and speedy defense, two attributes that have been priorities for the team over the last few seasons.
He would join the likes of Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, and Christian Gonzalez to create a scary group of defenders for any opposing receiver to try and get past. Plus, his energy and enthusiasm for the game would be an electric asset as they attempt to become a competitive team once again.
He may not be as accomplished or experienced as other cornerbacks in the division, like Xavien Howard, Jalen Ramsey, or Tre'Davious White. However, his potential and early ascension to the top of the league in just one season would make it nearly impossible not to steal him from the Jets if given a chance.