With limited free agent wide receiver options to choose from, the Patriots could be forced to either wait until the upcoming draft to find their next WR1 or they'll have to make a blockbuster trade to acquire the caliber of player they desire. That could bring Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, or Chris Olave to New England for a steep price.
It might be what they have to pay to ensure they have a clear top-tier pass catcher on the roster, especially after watching D.K. Metcalf be traded to the Steelers. There is a good chance they could pull a deal off for one of those names, but a big opportunity just presented itself that could be exactly the move the Patriots can get done.
Longtime Rams' receiver Cooper Kupp has been put on the trade block over the last few weeks, and because no team has made an offer they can't refuse, reports have claimed he will be released on Wednesday when the new league year begins.
That means the Patriots would have to outbid other teams hoping to sign Kupp rather than giving up much-needed draft capital to bring him in on a one-year rental.
The Patriots could solve their wide receiver woes once the Rams release Cooper Kupp
Although he might not be the ideal candidate to add to the receiving corps due to his age and injury history, Kupp hasn't shown much slowing down, and the Patriots witnessed that firsthand during the 2024 season. He absolutely dominated their defense in Week 11, recording six receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
On the year, he totaled 67 receptions for 710 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games, so his game against the Patriots was one of the best performances of the 2024 season.
If he is ultimately released on Wednesday, there's no reason for the Patriots not to express interest and potentially make an offer. The 32-year-old would immediately become the WR1 on the roster and give Maye a proper deep threat option to work with, something he wasn't fortunate to have as a rookie.
He likely would be much cheaper to sign than if they attempted to trade for him, too, which is a bonus for the Patriots, as keeping as much of their draft capital as possible is crucial in truly making over the team for the 2025 season.
Given some of the other free agent options available, Kupp will be near the top of the list as the most desirable. If the new regime wants to ensure they have the caliber of players needed on offense to help Maye as much as possible going into the draft, signing Kupp would be a great start.
It just now becomes a matter of how interested they are in him and what kind of contract he's hoping to get from his next team. That will likely decide his future in Foxboro.