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Patriots Have Perfect Trade Opportunity After Shocking GM Firing

By Richard Louis

Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New England Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf during the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New England Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf during the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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The New England Patriots are going to be very active this offseason once again. Following their Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills, the Patriots decided to fire Jerod Mayo after one season. It didn't take long for players to comment on Mayo's departure but the feeling sounded like a sigh of relief.

The Patriots will keep Eliot Wolf around, and he will have a say in who they hire next as head coach. Going into Tuesday, the New York Jets were the only team with a GM opening but the Tennessee Titans joined them when they fired Ran Carthon.

NFL News: Titans Fired Ran Carthon on Tuesday

With Carthon no longer in charge in Tennessee, there could be movement along that roster. The Patriots would be wise to contact them and see the price tag on WR Calvin Ridley.

The need for WR1 is clear as day. Quarterback Drake Maye showed a ton of flashes as a rookie but he needs a reliable playmaker. New England's leading wide receiver, DeMario Douglas, had 621 yards this season. That's nowhere good enough, and they should call in about Ridley.

Before he signed a four-year, $92 million with the Titans in 2023, the Patriots had a ton of interest in adding Ridley. Reportedly, New England didn't want to offer more than $40 million guaranteed, while the Titans gave him $50 million guaranteed. That was the deciding factor but things can look different in 2025.

The Alabama product is signed through 2027, with a cap hit of $28 million in 2025, $26 million in 2026, and $27 million in 2027. New England will enter the offseason with $127 million in cap space per Overthecap.com.

They have the funds to absorb his contract and also have the draft capital needed to finalize a deal. It would likely take a Day 2 pick to land Ridley but that could be worth it. In his career, Ridley has 388 receptions for 5,375 yards and 40 touchdowns. He has three seasons of 1,000-plus yards under his belt and would fill a huge void for New England.

We'll have to see how things unfold in Tennessee, but the Pats had an interest in Ridley last year. They may have the chance to right their wrongs and bring him to Foxborough.

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