The New England Patriots have a smorgasbord of wide receivers, but it's hard to determine which ones they trust.
Kayshon Boutte led the Patriots' passing attack with 103 yards in Week 1, and Hunter Henry, Stefon Diggs, and DeMario Douglas all got at least seven targets as well. Is there room for another veteran to join that group at some point this season?
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report evidently believes so. On Wednesday, Knox suggested that the Patriots could be players in potential trade talks for a San Francisco 49ers standout.
Knox named the Patriots, along with the Kansas City Chiefs, as prospective trade suitors for 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings this season, should San Francisco decide to cut ties with the fifth-year veteran.
"Should 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall prove to be a consistent playmaker, Jennings could be viewed as expendable once Brandon Aiyuk returns from injury. He proved himself as a starter last season and should intrigue receiver-needy teams," Knox wrote. "In the meantime, though, prying Jennings away from San Francisco could be both difficult and risky. He suffered a shoulder injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1, while star tight end George Kittle has a hamstring injury."
Jennings, 28, has always played bigger than his stat page. Though he set a new career-high with 975 receiving yards on an injury-riddled 49ers offense this season, he's only averaged 32 yards per game in his NFL career.
Knox projected that the Patriots or any suitor would have to give up a fourth-round pick in next year's draft and a fifth-rounder in 2027 to secure Jennings, who is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
That could be viewed as a steep price for a playmaker with a relatively short resume, but a couple of injuries between this weekend and the trade deadline could always prompt the Patriots to start making calls.
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