New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye reacts on the sideline during an NFL game as the Patriots miss a chance to land a deep-threat wide receiver.
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Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looks on during an NFL game as New England reportedly missed a chance to land a deep-threat wide receiver target who instead joined the Buffalo Bills.
In their unexpected run to a 14-win season and the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots relied largely on the efficiency of quarterback Drake Maye, but their search for a replacement for Stephon Diggs, including Chicago Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore,took a hit Thursday when the Buffalo Bills acquired the veteran wide receiver.
In his second year, Maye led the NFL with a 72 percent completion percentage and 8.9 yards gained per pass attempt. Maye was also near the top in his deep-ball throws, in fact ranking No. 1 in explosive play efficiency on passes with a 129.1 rating.
Somehow Maye did it all without a legitimate deep-threat wide receiver.
The only receiver on the Patriots who caught more than 1,000 yards worth of passes — the first New England receiver to hit that mark since Julian Edelman in 2019 — was veteran Stephon Diggs — and the Patriots informed Diggs on Wednesday that they were going to release him to save $16 million in salary cap space.
The Patriots clearly needed to replace Diggs, presumably with a wide receiver who could also fill the deep-threat role. But one of the top candidates known to be available in a trade, and who had reportedly been targeted by New England, has now escaped the Patriots, and on Thursday, according to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport.
To make the situation even more of a blow to the Patriots, it was their AFC East arch-rival, the Buffalo Bills, who moved first and stole the wide receiver target.
Chicago Bears WR D.J. Moore Now Teams With Josh Allen
Almost as soon as the impending release of Diggs was reported, the Patriots were connected to Chicago Bears veteran wide receiver D.J. Moore, who had been the Carolina Panthers‘ first-round draft pick out of Maryland — also the schools where Diggs played college football — in 2018.
Moore endured a somewhat down year in 2025, but the 28-year-old has tallied more than 1,000 yards in receptions four times in his eight-season career, and averaged 13.5 yards per catch throughout his career. That ties him for 11th among all active wide receivers.
“New England is left with a massive hole at wide receiver, but early reports have been that they are willing to spend big money on a free agent. This might be the time for the Bears to step in and see if they can make them an offer they can’t refuse to take Moore off their hands,” wrote FanSided‘s Anthony Miller on Wednesday.
But it didn’t happen.
Instead, the team that the Patriots are almost certain to battle for the AFC East title in 2026 made the trade for Moore, according to Rapoport’s reporting.
Why Did Patriots Whiff on Acquiring Moore?
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter filled in more details of the Moore trade, reporting that the Bills will receive Moore and a fifth-round draft pick, and will send only a second-round pick in return.
The Patriots head into the 2026 NFL Draft owning 11 picks. But only three of those fall within the draft’s first 100 selections, and only one within the top 50.
Their lone second-round pick falls at No. 63. The Patriots may believe they can score a younger, less expensive receiver with that pick, or at No. 95 in the third round. Otherwise, why they would be unwilling to at least match the Bills’ offer for Moore remains to be explained.