The Patriots were on the short list of teams that were expected to make a big-time splash in free agency, specifically in a trade for a superstar wide receiver. They have yet to do that and, instead, have watched some of their biggest competitors beat them to it, including the Bills.
Buffalo traded a second-round pick to the Bears for receiver DJ Moore, and while on paper, that looks like a win for quarterback Josh Allen, since he hasn't had a clear WR1 since they traded Stefon Diggs in 2024, going all-in for Moore is being widely criticized.
It's continuing to be blasted by NFL execs, according to Mike Sando of The Athletic, which is music to the Patriots' ears, who very well could have been on the receiving end of that criticism had they completed that trade.
That's a massive win for New England, who will be actively competing against Buffalo for the divisional crown in 2026 and beyond, and if they are going to keep overpaying for talent, the Patriots can sneak out with more wins than anyone predicted.
The Bills overpaying for players works heavily in the Patriots' favor
In a revealing piece, Sando shared what he's heard from NFL execs about the Moore trade, and it almost sounds like it's coming from a Patriots fan, given the reaction to what most assumed would be considered a great trade.
"DJ Moore was gonna get cut, and they gave up a second-round pick to get him. They gave up a second-round pick and $40 million [in guarantees]. What is going on?"
Fortunately, the Patriots are not in desperation mode the way the Bills are, who saw their status atop the AFC East slip after failing to sweep the Mike Vrabel-led team last year. They're now seeing their Super Bowl window start to close, if it was even open to begin with, and they're making desperate moves to improve the roster without thinking of the long-term implications.
That's something even Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report pointed out about the move, referring to the steep cost of not only bringing Moore in but also keeping him around for three years.
"On top of that, the Bills guaranteed $15.5 million of Moore's salary in 2028 upon completing the deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. That means the Bills are essentially committed to the soon-to-be 29-year-old for the next three seasons."
This serves as a lesson for the Patriots about what not to do, while also proving them right to pass on Moore, and taking it as a compliment to see the active desperation from a franchise whose players and fans overlook and discredit New England as legitimate competition. Their actions prove that's not the case.