Jason Burgos
A new report on big-name NFL players that could be traded starting next month linked the New England Patriots to not one, not two, but three impact receivers.
The Patriots and their fans are still licking their wounds after a magical season in 2025 ended with a decisive loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. However, New England has the chance to be even better than the team that won the AFC Championship in January.
Unlike most elite teams, the Patriots have a young and affordable core. It means they head into the offseason with the 10th most available cap space ($42.6 million) in the NFL, according to Over the Cap. So they can take that cash into free agency or the trade market and go after some game-changing talent to get them back to the Super Bowl.
The Patriots don’t have positions they desperately need to improve. However, MVP candidate Drake Maye deserves more weapons around him next season. That is why the organization is expected to be in the wide receiver market this offseason.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Ben Solak took a look at 15 notable stars that could be traded by their current teams in the weeks ahead. Quite a few were linked to the Patriots, including three Pro-Bowl-level pass catchers.
Patriots linked to trade for three star receivers, including Brian Thomas
The first was former Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick Brian Thomas. Graziano reports “teams are monitoring the situation” with the receiver after a season where he seemed like a poor fit for the offense after hiring Liam Coen as head coach a year ago.
The next pass catcher where the Patriots were among the “Potential team fits” was Philadelphia Eagles star AJ Brown. The three-time Pro Bowler did not hide his frustration with the offense last season, and the ESPN insiders suggested it is a 60% chance Brown is traded.
Lastly, the Patriots also emerged as a potential fit for two-time Pro Bowler DK Metcalf. “When he signed his deal last spring, Metcalf’s $25 million in 2026 salary was fully guaranteed. But his two-game suspension at the end of the season for an in-game altercation with a fan voided that guarantee and could, in turn, make Metcalf easier to trade, if the Pittsburgh Steelers are so inclined,” Graziano wrote.
All three would be worthwhile additions to New England’s offense in 2026. However, Brown would likely come at the highest cost among the trio of receivers.
