Heading into Week 8 of the NFL season, the New England Patriots are one of the hottest teams in the league. Coming off four straight wins, they’ll look to add to that streak with a victory against the 2-5 Cleveland Browns. Cleveland will be one of the toughest defenses the Patriots have faced, but New England has no excuse for not winning.
A big reason for the Patriots' turnaround is head coach Mike Vrabel. Vrabel has come in and immediately improved New England's culture. Drake Maye has also been the Patriots' best player, avoiding a sophomore slump and looking like the potential franchise quarterback the front office hoped he'd be when drafting him out of North Carolina. With the trade deadline approaching, New England should reward Maye's progression by taking advantage of a new front office making a 2024 Pro Bowl WR available.
Pats Must Take Advantage of Jags Listening to Brian Thomas Jr. Offers
Following a strong rookie season, expectations were high for former LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. So far in his sophomore season, he has had a disappointing go of it. With his impact on the offense down season, the Jaguars are listening to trade calls on him, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
If Thomas is available, the Patriots should absolutely make a run at acquiring him. Yes, he’s had a rough season, but Thomas still has a ton of talent and would elevate the Patriots' passing game to the next level. Pairing Thomas with Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte would make this the strongest receiver room in a while for the Patriots. Acquiring Thomas would likely be an expensive move, but to pair your QB of the future with a potential WR of the future who is still on his rookie contract as well should be a no-brainer.
One reason why this might not happen is that the Patriots are focused on defensive players in any trades. While you can still add players on defense, that doesn’t mean you don’t look at trading for Thomas. Young receivers being available like this is a rare occurrence, so the Patriots have to take advantage of this opportunity while it’s in front of them.
Even though it may cost a lot to get him, the Patriots have to at least make a call on Thomas to see the value. Fans have waited for the Patriots to draft a top receiver in the draft, and while it’s through a trade, the team has the chance to do just that. Adding Thomas would allow the Patriots to inch closer to becoming a problem when the NFL Playoffs arrive.