Patriots Have Perfect Trade Opportunity After Disastrous Week 3 Meltdown

The New England Patriots looked like they forgot how to play football to open the NFL Week 3 schedule. The Thursday Night Football spotlight proved to be too bright for the Patriots as they fell 24-3 to the rival New York Jets in a game that saw Jerod Mayo's team muster a total of 139 total yards with only 61 of them coming through the air.

While terrible play from the offensive line has been behind some of the Patriots' passing woes, a lack of production from the wide receiver room hasn't helped. New England doesn't have a single wideout at the 100-yard mark through three games, positioning the franchise to potentially make a deal ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline.

Fortunately, the perfect solution just became available for the Patriots.

Patriots Trade Rumors: Should New England Target Panthers WR Diontae Johnson?

ESPN's Dan Graziano is reporting that Carolina Panthers wideout Diontae Johnson is a potential trade target for the Patriots. The veteran playmaker was acquired by the Panthers from the Pittsburgh Steelers during the offseason and carries a $10 million cap hit before becoming a free agent in March.

Graziano added that the Patriots would only have to pay Johnson about $3.5 million if they acquire him closer to the deadline, which could wind up being a complete steal.

A former 2019 third-round pick by the Steelers, Johnson has shown potential during his six-year career. The ex-Toledo WR has made 396 catches for 4,397 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns across 79 games and has even tallied a 20-199-2 stat line in three postseason appearances.

The Panthers thought Johnson's presence could help former 2022 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young take his game to the next level, but that hasn't been the case. Carolina's poorly constructed offense has limited the 28-year-old receiver ceiling, resulting in his only tallying five catches for 34 yards without a touchdown in his first two games.

Even though the Patriots offense hasn't been stellar, a change of scenery could help Johnson get back on track. He'd easily be the go-to option for either Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye given that the likes of Demario Douglas, Ja'Lynn Polk, and K.J. Osborn have all left much to be desired for one reason or another.

Let's also not forget that it wasn't too long ago when the Patriots were in the market for a difference-maker. Various insiders reported in August that New England was targeting San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk before he ended up signing a four-year, $120 million extension.

Even if the Patriots land Johnson and he doesn't bounce back, at least they tried something rather than stick with the status quo.

Whether Johnson is acquired or not, we'll see if the Patriots can turn their passing game around when they travel to Levi's Stadium to face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4. Considering how New England is already projected to be the 9.5-point underdog, per FanDuel Sportsbook, Mayo & Co. needs all the extra help they can get.

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