The New England Patriots (6-2) are among the surprise teams in the NFL and find themselves in position to buy ahead of next week’s trade deadline.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell on Thursday named New England as part of a group of teams that should strongly consider adding to their rosters before its too late. His suggestions included searching the market for help at safety, off the edge and in the offensive backfield. However, there is also a case to be made for the Patriots adding another big-time pass-catcher to the mix.
Quarterback Drake Maye entered Week 9 with the third-best odds to win the MVP award (plus-550). He has a completion rate north of 75% and 2,026 passing yards to go along with 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He is averaging the most yards per pass attempt in the league (9.69) and has the best passer rating in the NFL through eight weeks (118.7).
Maye’s connection with veteran star Stefon Diggs, who has 42 catches for 470 yards in his age-32 season, is both undeniable and continually growing. Meanwhile, Kayshon Boutte has been the perfect complement as a downfield threat, averaging 18.7 yards per reception and scoring five touchdowns in eight games.
New England has an opportunity to seize on the momentum its offense has generated by dealing for the best wide receiver likely available on the trade market: DJ Moore of the Chicago Bears.
“If there’s a prominent player who could unexpectedly make sense as a potential trade candidate at the deadline for me, it’s Moore,” Barnwell wrote. “The 28-year-old is starting a four-year, $110 million extension next year, but he hasn’t found a consistent role in Ben Johnson’s offense; he is averaging a career-low 47.3 receiving yards per game.
“I get the sense that Johnson’s preferred option would be to work with 12 personnel when tight ends Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland are healthy or work Luther Burden III into the mix alongside Olamide Zaccheaus and Rome Odunze in three-WR sets.”
The Patriots have more than $52.5 million in available salary cap space as of Thursday, and could easily add Moore and still address the help needed on the defensive side of the football ahead of the Nov. 4 deadline.
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