The Patriots entered the 2025 season with one of the worst wide receiver rooms in the NFL. It needed major bolstering, and Mike Vrabel went to work to do just that. Vrabel signed two veteran receivers, both of whom had played for the Bills in four-time Pro-Bowler Stefon Diggs, and clutch, big-target receiver, Mack Hollins. They are big upgrades over 2024's group.
He also drafted a lightning-fast and explosive wideout from Washington State, Kyle Williams in the third round and signed a pass-catching machine, Efton Chism III, in undrafted free agency. All four of these receivers will make the 2025 roster and contribute immediately.
Only 2024's best receiver, Pop Douglas (and he may be on thin ice), and maybe Kayshon Boutte are likely to remain in 2025, unless 2024 draft picks, second-rounder Ja'Lynn Polk, and fourth-rounder Javon Baker suddenly emerge from nowhere and show something. Neither did anything in their rookie season. The Pats still need help at wide receiver, and an analyst has a solid suggestion.
Trading Ja'Lynn Polk and a pick for Jauan Jennings makes perfect sense.
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report has suggested some trades the San Francisco 49ers should consider. One option is to trade wide receiver Jauan Jennings to the Patriots for a 2024 second-round pick, Ja'Lynn Polk, and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
"While the Pats did expend a third-round pick on wideout Kyle Williams and signed both Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, they could still use some help at the receiver position. This will be especially true if Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker—wideouts the previous regime tapped in the second and fourth rounds, respectively, last year—don't show vast improvement during camp. Vrabel revealed last month that he would be monitoring holdout situations around the league in search of trade opportunities.
With Jennings indicating he wants a new deal, the cash-flush Pats could be well-positioned to strike. Trading for Jennings would immediately bolster Maye's weapons and give the young signal-caller one of the league's deepest receiving corps. The Pats could facilitate this deal by giving Polk a chance for a fresh start in San Francisco's offense and adding an early Day 3 pick into the mix."
This trade would be an opportunity knocking for the Patriots. The 28-year-old Jennings is a 6'3", 212-pound big receiver who's played four years in the league for the 49ers. Although his age may not be optimal, his 2024 production was satisfactory.
Jennings had a breakout season in 2024, though he only started 10 games out of 15 played. He caught 77 passes for 975 yards, a 12.7-yard average per catch, six touchdowns, and a whopping 47 catches for first-downs. He'd be a tremendous addition to the Patriots' smaller receiver corps, and, added to Hollins, would provide a third-down pair of receivers equal to any in the NFL.
The price tag for Jennings would be cheap for the Patriots
If the Patriots can get Jennings for what Alex Kay suggests, they should fly immediately to San
Francisco and make that deal. Unfortunately, it seems too good to be true and probably is. Regardless, Polk has been a bust, and while the age differential would be in the 49ers' favor if the 23-year-old Polk does work out, Jennings is good now, and the only season that matters is 2025.
The suggested trade would be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, it's not realistic. The 49ers are not likely to gift the Pats with a solid receiver for a chance on a totally unproductive one, plus a fourth-rounder. That should not deter the Pats, however. They should be prepared to pay more.
To get Jennings for even a third-rounder and Polk is still grand larceny by Vrabel. Polk is a huge question mark. He did nothing in 2024, and Jennings showed a lot. He'll contribute now, and Polk may never at all.
The trump card for Vrabel is the money situation. If the Niners don't want to fork over the cash to pay Jennings, it plays right into the Patriots' hands. They have cash and a good place to spend some of it (a left guard would be another option), which would be on another NFL-proven receiver like Jauan Jennings.