Going into the final preseason game of the year, the Patriots are still among the few teams that could pull off a massive trade to boost their chances of winning this upcoming season. While three intriguing candidates could be up for trade, one player in particular has been a focus of Patriots fans everywhere for one reason: Drake Maye.
That's why wide receiver Terry McLaurin continues to be at the top of the list as the most desirable trade option that they could go after, even if some current rumors suggest the Commanders are nearing a deal to keep him around long-term.
It might not come to fruition, however, especially after the latest chatter about what McLaurin is looking for in an annual salary, which the Commanders have seemingly made clear they are not interested in handing out.
Luckily for the Patriots, they have the means and the mindset to accommodate it.
Patriots now know what it will cost to acquire Terry McLaurin
According to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala, sources are indicating that the negotiations between McLaurin and Washington could be nearing a standstill if the rumored demands are true.
That might not be something the Patriots are necessarily looking to dish out. Still, when a player like McLaurin becomes available, the price is inevitably going to be high, and they have already made it apparent that they are willing to hand out big contract extensions, as they were in a possible trade for Brandon Aiyuk last year.
"One person with knowledge of [Terry] McLaurin’s contract negotiations said the veteran receiver has asked for more than DK Metcalf, who signed a four-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this year. If McLaurin is seeking more than Metcalf’s $33 million a year in average annual value, that would put him in the top four among receivers.
If he seeks more than the $60 million Metcalf is guaranteed, that would land him in the top 10 receivers among guaranteed money. If McLaurin is using Metcalf’s deal as a benchmark based on percentage of the team’s cap, the Commanders’ wideout would be asking for more than 11.8 percent of Washington’s cap in average annual value."
That is a lot of money. But there is an argument to make that McLaurin is worth it, even more so than D.K. Metcalf was.
Although McLaurin is older, his performance speaks for itself. He has recorded five straight 1,000+ yard seasons, with only his rookie year falling just short of that impressive mark. He has become one of the best pass catchers in the league, which has earned him two Pro Bowl nods, and he has consistently proven he can work with any quarterback that's under center.
McLaurin elevated Jayden Daniels' game as a rookie during the 2024 season, totaling a career high 13 touchdowns, and was a significant contributing factor to the Washington turnaround all the way to the NFC Championship. He could replicate that with Maye, even if the Patriots don't go for a Lombardi as soon as this season.
The main question will be what they'd have to ship in a trade package to get him in the door. It doesn't seem like offering him a worthy extension will be a problem, so what to include in a trade is the question at hand.