The New England Patriots continued their success on Sunday with a 31-13 Week 7 victory over the Tennessee Titans, improving to 5-2 on the season. This was a revenge game for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, coaching his first game against his former team. After looking shaky on the first two drives, the Patriots settled in and only allowed three points the rest of the day; and while the defense played a huge role in the win, the offense also had its standout performers.
Quarterback Drake Maye continued to impress, setting the Patriots' single-game completion record with a 91.3% rate (21-of-23). Running back Rhamondre Stevenson bounced back with 88 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, while wideout Kayshon Boutte had another strong game, bringing in an impressive touchdown catch and 55 receiving yards on two carries.
But while Boutte's third TD in the last two weeks might have fans feeling good about the Patriots' WR outlook, that doesn't mean more help isn't needed.
Patriots' Need More WR Help Despite Kayshon Boutte's Recent Success
Fellow wideouts Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins also played well, but for the Patriots to give themselves the best chance of success, they need to look into bringing in another wide receiver. DeMario Douglas hasn't produced much this season despite a nice catch on Sunday, along with the two rookie receivers, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism.
Following Week 7, Boutte (356) and Diggs (456) are the only Patriots wideouts who've surpassed the 200-yard mark. Hollins (119) and Douglas (118) have barely moved the needle, while Williams and Douglas only have 20 receiving yards between them, and none belong to the rookie wideout.
If the Patriots look for an upgrade at receiver, a former Patriot in Jakobi Meyers may be available. An issue with bringing in players during the season is trying to get them caught up with the playbook; however, Meyers has played in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' system in New England and Las Vegas. Given the rough season for the Raiders, Meyers shouldn't take much to acquire in a trade.
Any trade that the Patriots may want to make has to be done before the NFL trade deadline, which is Tuesday, Nov. 4. New England should be active before the deadline, making sure the team is the best it can be before making a push for the playoffs. With some winnable games on the upcoming schedule, a much-needed WR trade could cement the Pats' playoff outlook.