The New England Patriots have made it clear what their goals are this offseason, and one of the most important is to surround Drake Maye with an upgraded offense to put the quarterback in the best position possible to succeed. Besides the offensive line, a big way to accomplish that is by adding another top-tier receiver, and they have some trade options to consider.
Whether Stefon Diggs remains with the team is irrelevant, although it would be best to keep him around if his legal issues get settled, because pairing him with another high-caliber player would only make the receiving corps stronger.
There are a few potential players for the Patriots to keep on a short list that might be moved this offseason, most of whom analysts believe could be traded ahead of this year's draft.
The most discussed player continues to be AJ Brown, but there are other options worthy of consideration that might cost the Patriots just as much, or maybe a little bit more, than the former Titans superstar.
4 wide receivers the Patriots should be calling about ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft
Brian Thomas Jr.
It's not common to see a first-round draft pick potentially become available going into just his third NFL season, but that's the buzz surrounding Brian Thomas Jr. going into this offseason.
After an up-and-down 2025 season, there has been a lot of talk about the Jaguars moving on from Thomas already, with ESPN's Bill Barnwell suggesting that the Bills get a deal done for the wide receiver. Because that would be bad news for the Patriots, they should also look into whether he would be a good fit for their offense.
The 23-year-old lived up to the hype during his rookie season in 2024, recording 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and ten touchdowns. But he didn't maintain that level of production last season, and there was a lot of speculation about why that might be, most of which placed no blame on their offense or quarterback.
It might be one of the riskier moves for the Patriots to trade for Thomas, but he's young and explosive, and there's a reason he was a first-round draft pick.
If they can get that kind of production out of him like he displayed he was capable of two years ago, then pairing him with Drake Maye is a no-brainer.
DJ Moore
If consistency and production are top traits that the Patriots are looking for in their next receiver, there's plenty to love about 28-year-old DJ Moore.
The Bears' current WR1 has had an impressive career thus far and, over the last two years, has become Caleb Williams' security blanket, making explosive plays and continuing to move the chains. That makes it hard to imagine Chicago moving on from him, but analysts think it's possible, so there are reasons to explore the idea.
While his last two years in Chicago haven't been his best, Moore has been a productive scorer and has not missed a single game since the 2020 season, making him an incredibly reliable option for Maye to work with.
He has shown he can be the go-to guy for any quarterback, as he worked with multiple during his time with the Panthers. He can also record 1,000+ receiving yards when given the opportunity, which the Patriots didn't get until they signed Diggs last year.
George Pickens
Although he's technically going to be a free agent in just a few weeks, there's also an increasing belief that, for the first time in his career, the Cowboys will franchise tag George Pickens before reaching an agreement on a potential extension, or ultimately decide to trade him instead.
If that's the route they take, the Patriots have every reason to be on the phone with Jerry Jones about getting a deal done, as the nearly 25-year-old has been everything and more that a team could want out of a second-round draft pick.
After he was traded from the Steelers last offseason, which was rumored to be due to behavioral issues, he became an easy go-to target for Dak Prescott in Dallas, recording 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games, many of which were without CeeDee Lamb on the field.
He would immediately become the WR1 the Patriots have been longing for, while also giving Maye a 1-2 punch alongside Diggs to really boost their offensive production.
It won't be cheap to get him in the door, but using a draft pick on a proven talent at such a young age might be the way for the Patriots to makeover their offense without any questions about what they'll be getting in return.
Justin Jefferson
This might be the biggest dream name on the list, but analysts continue to float Justin Jefferson's name as a potential trade target this offseason, and given the Patriots' need at the position, it would be outlandish to ignore that possibility.
The Vikings are in a tricky situation with their quarterback right now, as there are many questions regarding JJ McCarthy's fit as their starter, and they might be interested in revamping the entire team to get the right guy under center and build a roster around him.
That means Jefferson could be an easy trade asset for them, even if he is considered one of the best receivers in the NFL today.
His 2025 season is one to forget when comparing it to the rest of his career, and because of what the team might try to accomplish this offseason, Jefferson's name has come up in trade speculation over the last few months. If Minnesota is willing to listen to trade offers, the Patriots have no choice but to make the call.
At just 26 years old, he's recorded six 1,000+ receiving yard seasons in a row (every year of his career) and continues to be one of the best talents in the league regardless of position. He would be the best player for Maye to work with, making it easy to suggest the Patriots go all-in to get him if the Vikings hope to move him.