The New England Patriots were absolutely dominated on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. It was an embarrassing loss, to say the least, and it is clear the Patriots are not Super Bowl contenders just yet.
It is understandable for fans to be incredibly concerned. However, a lot can change in a week, especially during the week of the NFL trade deadline. I am not saying New England should go crazy and trade all their assets, or panic and go get one of the NFL’s biggest stars. I am saying the Patriots need to take a look at their roster as a whole, and seriously consider not only how they can get better now, but also how they can set themselves up for the future.
The Patriots need to get Drake Maye some help immediately
Drake Maye had some horrible interceptions (three times, to be exact) and decisions against Green Bay, but the rest of the offense didn’t do him any favors. There were quite a few plays when his receivers were completely blanketed and just couldn’t get open.
Obviously, A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs are out with injuries, but the Patriots still need a young, explosive weapon that can get open and help out Maye. At this point, New England just needs to add talent that can grow with this roster. No more trading for 29-year-old receivers coming off a knee injury. It is time to get aggressive; go get Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr., an explosive speedster at 24 years old who could use a change of scenery.
Thomas Jr. would not only be the Patriots' top weapon with Brown sidelined, but he would dominate alongside the talents of the three-time All-Pro receiver. Maye throws one of the best deep balls in the NFL, and the 4.3 speed of Thomas Jr. would be a match made in heaven for the young gunslinger.
It is time to get a game wrecker on defense
If the Patriots opt to make a trade for a defensive player instead of a receiver, (which would be understandable seeing as they gave up 45 points to Green Bay on Sunday), they need to get a player that opposing teams will fear.
They have a great defensive tackle duo in Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, and two young edge rushers in Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder, who look like stars in the making. They could use another edge rusher for depth, or they could swing for the fences and get a game wrecker that will create havoc for opposing quarterbacks.
A name that has been floated around is Maxx Crosby. However, he may cost way too much in terms of draft capital. But if you could somehow get him at a bargain, he would be the ultimate Mike Vrabel-type of player. He plays every snap like it’s his last, and he is one of the best pass rushers in the entire NFL. Adding him to this already talented defensive line group would be insane, and could be the move that gets New England back on track.
The Patriots' defense had no answer for Jordan Love yesterday, but if they had Crosby, Love would’ve been running for his life. A trade of this magnitude is highly unlikely, but miracles have happened before, and if Vrabel can get the madman out of Vegas, we could see a completely different New England season.
New England's entire defense needs to wake up and lock back in
One of the biggest concerns from yesterday’s game was Christian Gonzalez getting cooked on just about every play. He is supposed to be one of the best corners in the league and was just made the highest-paid defensive back in history this offseason.
I have watched many games where Gonzalez has locked up every single player he has gone against, and many games where it is clear he earned the nickname “Agent 0” or “Gonzo”. Yesterday was the first time I have seen him play terribly, so I am not quite ready to hit the panic button. However, I was definitely concerned. But if the Patriots can regroup, maybe add another player via trade, and get back on track, this defense has the talent to be a top group in the AFC.
Maybe yesterday was a fluke, because there really weren’t any players who played well. I do trust Mike Vrabel to get his squad back where they need to be, and I trust him to be aggressive in adding another weapon to help his squad down the stretch and hopefully into the playoffs.
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