New England Patriots Rumors: To draft or trade for a top wide receiver?
Decisions, decisions. That seems to be the key word for the New England Patriots during this off-season. What decision will they make next to impact their football team?
Decisions have to be made about Mac Jones heading into the 2023 season. Bill O’Brien needs to make decisions in order to continue to improve his offense. But the biggest decision for the remainder of this off-season seems to revolve around the position of wide receiver.
We’ve heard the Patriots being involved in a lot of rumors over the off-season. Could they go get Deandre Hopkins or Jerry Jeudy? Will they look at the option of the draft to help them bolster the position?
Sure, the addition of Juju Smith-Schuster helps your receiving core a ton. But you need more!
So which route should the Patriots go to get that number one receiver? Should they draft or should they trade?
New England Patriots drafting a potential number one receiver
Now keep in mind, the Patriots have the number 14 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Yes, I know we make the references to Bill Belichick trading out of the first round more often than not. But something tells me this draft is different.
There are two big names that everyone continues to talk about: Boston College’s Zay Flowers and Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Either one of these guys could come into the Patriots offense and compete for the number one receiver position. They are tough, good route runners, and can create separation; which the Patriots desperately need.
The good part about drafting a potential receiver is the longevity angle. Look at Joe Burrow-Jamar Chase. A perfect example! Sure, they played together in college at LSU. But they had the time to form that relationship at the NFL level and look how far they’ve come in a few short years.
That could be the relationship between Mac Jones and one of those two receivers, should the Patriots make the pick at 14.
New England Patriots trading for a potential number one receiver
The other move the Patriots can consider is trading for a number one receiver.
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I still firmly believe Hopkins is in play. There have even been suggestions around the NFL that the Cardinals could even release Hopkins outright, which would make obtaining him that much easier.
Jerry Jeudy I think at this point is done. Sean Payton wants to involve Jeudy as a main point in the Denver offense and the asking price is just way too steep.
There also could be a move that we don’t know about, coming down the pipeline. You just never know with Bill!
The bottom line with Patriots receiver needs
The New England Patriots have to get another wide receiver one way or the other.
Next. Why building along the lines is the best strategy. dark
My personal opinion: if you can get Hopkins, go get him. If you absolutely can’t or the Cardinals asking price in a trade stays ridiculous, then draft one of Flowers or Smith-Njigba.
This offense cannot go through what it went through last season again. It was too painful and anemic to handle!
Go get a number one receiver, finish a really good off-season strong, and let’s ride high into 2023!