After spending the day adding some explosive defensive players to the Patriots roster, Mike Vrabel and Co. need to make big moves to improve the offense. That was the expected priority this offseason, and they have yet to enact it besides re-signing tight end Austin Hooper and signing right tackle Morgan Moses.
They did sign their first wide receiver, Mack Hollins, who spent a season with the Raiders when Josh McDaniels was the head coach. The connection with a coach on the team seems to be a common theme among most of their signings so far. However, that can't be a defining factor in adding offensive talent, especially since the offense needs far more help than a guy like Hollins can provide.
That leaves guys like Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins at the top of the list of unsigned free agents who could be on the Patriots' radar. They could also look to pull off a blockbuster trade to get the caliber of talent they desire most, which opens the door for names like Brandon Aiyuk and Tee Higgins.
Then at least one potential trade candidate has predominately flown under the radar, only listed as a possibility for the Patriots in recent weeks. That changed after the first day of the legal tampering period, though, when he seemed to hint he wants off his current team, which could be the sign the Patriots need to make the call.
Chris Olave's tweet could be an opening for the Patriots to make a trade
After news broke that the Jets were signing quarterback Justin Fields to a two-year contract on Monday, there was a lot of excitement to see him reunite with his Ohio State teammate, wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
The duo impressed during their years together at the college and their reunion could yield great results for the Jets if Fields is named their starter, which seemed to have another former Buckeye teammate, Chris Olave, wishing he could be part of it.
🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/x0INVhov8E
— Chris Olave (@chrisolave_) March 10, 2025
This could simply be a guy being excited for his friends and the opportunity this brings for their continued success in the league and nothing more. But there is a good chance that Olave, who has thrived with the Saints despite the revolving door of quarterbacks, might want out and seek a better situation with another team instead.
That appears to be with the Jets, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be good with playing for the Patriots and catching passes from a guy like Drake Maye.
If that opportunity arises, the Patriots should pounce. Even if the Saints don't make it publicly known that they are willing to entertain trade talks, Vrabel and Co. should still be on the phone to kick the tires on the possibility.
The 24-year-old is entering the fourth year of his career in New Orleans and has already recorded 191 receptions for 2,565 yards and 10 touchdowns in 39 games. He has been their clear WR1 and has lived up to the hype coming out of college. But the team is in a weird spot, hoping to become a competitive team again, which could mean they'd be willing to part with a guy like Olave to add more draft capital.
The Patriots are struggling to find the right receiver to add to their roster. Their free agent options have only become more limited, so perhaps spending their second-round pick in this year's draft could be worth trading for a player like Olave. That might have to be the path they go down if they want to really help Maye this upcoming season, and it's hard to say that would be a bad deal to make.
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