Super Bowl Champion suggests Patriots make franchise-changing offseason trade

The biggest takeaway from the Patriots' 2024 season is that they finally found their next franchise quarterback in Drake Maye. That has been their main struggle since Tom Brady left in 2020, and with the help of a losing season last year, they were able to snag one of the best quarterback prospects of the last few years with the third overall pick.

With that concern resolved, the new regime can focus on improving the roster for 2025 and beyond, starting with next year's free agency. Perhaps their biggest need remains to be a wide receiver, most specifically a WR1, which some think should be addressed in the draft.

However, even with a less-than-ideal free agency class next year, with the most desirable candidate being Tee Higgins, there are some trades the team could attempt to pull off, like one that Super Bowl Champion and former Patriot Jermaine Wiggins suggested this past week.

Ex-Patriot wants to see the team pull off a massive trade for one of the top receivers in the NFL

While attending the Pedro Martinez Foundation gala earlier this wee, Wiggins was asked what he thinks the Patriots should do in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Because they're expected to have a high draft pick, potentially a top-5 selection, there are a lot of takes on how the team should go about using their ideal positioning, whether holding firm and taking one of the best prospects of the class or trading down to acquire more capital.

Wiggins suggested they trade down and bundle the picks they receive in return to trade for Bengals' wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who is looking for a massive extension next offseason to become one of the highest-paid receivers in the league.

“If it was me, I would trade down. Try to package up some picks and I would try to see how many picks I could put together and see if Cincinnati’s willing to move on from Ja’Marr Chase. That’s what I would be wanting to do if they’re not going to pay him.”

Although this seems like a nearly impossible scenario, it's more possible than you might think, given how unwilling the Bengals have been thus far to offer new contracts to players other than quarterback Joe Burrow. This is what led to Higgins requesting a trade multiple times earlier this year, as they don't seem interested in extending him any time soon.

Cincinnati could feel the same way about Chase, who is rumored to want around $40 million a season with an extension. He's proven to be worth every penny, especially when you look at his Week 10 performance against the Ravens, recording 11 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns.

It wouldn't be a cheap trade for the Patriots, but...

It would cost the Patriots a pretty penny to get the Bengals to even consider trading their best offensive weapon, so acquiring more picks in 2025 and beyond could be enough to pull off the blockbuster trade. He's an ideal candidate given his age, the cap space the Patriots will have to accommodate his contract, and the immediate impact he would have on the team, especially Drake Maye.

Of course, the main issue is Chase's agreement to the trade. That will be the Patriots' biggest obstacle until they start winning again. Although the rise of Maye might be enticing to some players, and the money, going to a team nowhere near contention won't be a desirable destination for many free agents or tradeable players.

But if Chase is solely focused on the money or even intrigued by going to a team expected to be on the rise, the Patriots might be more interesting than expected. It would be a wild turn of events if the new regime could pull a trade like this off, which they were willing to do for 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk until they decided to rescind their offer.

If they could add Chase to their offense while also adding the desperately needed left tackle, the 2025 offseason could be a complete game-changer for the franchise and really set the tone for the years ahead, especially after a lackluster 2024 free agency.

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