It’s no secret that the New England Patriots have some serious gaps to fill on their roster leading into the 2024 NFL season.
After a dominant 2000s and 2010s run that included six Super Bowl titles and 11 AFC championships, the current Patriots team has seen better days.
Going into yet another season with a bottom-5 roster and a seemingly impossible first eight games on the schedule, the 2024 Patriots are going to have to make a move if they want any chance to compete with the rest of the league.
Now, it’s one thing to recognize the holes on the team and another when it comes to actually making transactions around the league, especially with a New England team with a recent history of passing up on trading for and drafting star position players.
A great example of this happened during the 2019 draft, when they selected N’Keal Harry at the end of the first round, passing up on now-superstar receivers Deebo Samuel and AJ Brown.
Another example is when just last year they were in heavy talks with the Los Angeles Rams for Odell Beckham Jr. coming off a Super Bowl win, and ultimately backing off leading to Beckham being sent to the Baltimore Ravens.
With that being said, the 2024 Patriots definitely have the money and cap space to initiate conversations to bring a player to the organization that can open the door for rookie Drake Maye to succeed.
Realistically or not, here are three long-shot trade targets for the Patriots leading into this next season.
Long Shot Trade Targets for the Patriots
Ceedee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
There’s trouble in paradise in Dallas – the Dallas Cowboys need to decide whether to give franchise quarterback Dak Prescott a deal or give star receiver Ceedee Lamb a deal, and they are running out of time. If they decide to sign both to extensions, the rest of the team would suffer because of the lack of money and lack of talent on the rest of the roster.
With that being said, the best move for the Cowboys here would be to resign Prescott and trade Lamb for future draft capital. Signing both of them to extensions would be the wrong choice because for one, the duo has not reached their full potential in four seasons together, and two, the future of the team could be in jeopardy.
If Jerod Mayo and the rest of the Patriots staff truly believe that Maye is the truth and can compete with the rest of the league, they need to push for a player like Lamb; why not go all in?
Giving the young quarterback a weapon who can dominate all three levels of the field while also managing 10+ targets per game is exactly what the team needs to turn things around; Lamb is a clear-cut top-five receiver in the league.
Setting him up with a group of reliable guys to catch the ball is key, and that’s what this move would allow. Surrounding a rookie Maye with Lamb, Ja’Lynn Polk, Demario Douglas, and guys like Austin Hooper and Hunter Henry would be exactly what he needs to easily transition into the NFL.
Let’s not forget, too, that the Patriots also have the most cap space in the entire league, so they definitely have the facilities they need to make a true push for an elite receiver like Lamb.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
There has been some buzz recently that Tee Higgins is not happy with his situation with the Cincinnati Bengals, and it’s time for the Patriots to take advantage.
Higgins, who has been franchise-tagged by the Bengals, is coming off a year with several injuries yet still totaling a solid 656 yards, 42 receptions, and five touchdowns in 12 game appearances. With health on his side as the 2024 season begins, he would give any team he’s playing for an extra boost in explosiveness on the offensive side of the ball.
In an NFL year with some of the best-receiving talents that league has ever seen, the Patriots are clearly falling behind- players like Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn simply do not compare to those in other receiver rooms, and they need to make a move.
The Patriots have lacked a true top-end receiver since Julian Edelman’s departure in 2021, and it’s been clear to see. If the team wants to ensure the most productive and effective development for Maye moving forward, getting a two-time 1,000-yard receiver like Higgins onto the roster is a must.
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
With the offseason coming to a close, it’s the perfect time for players to not show up to workouts and practices to express their disinterest in their contract situation.
This appears to be the case for Denver Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton, who is seeking a new contract going into the 2024 season.
Sutton played 16 games for the Broncos last season, recording 59 receptions for 772 yards and an impressive career-high 10 touchdowns. This is the kind of player that would boost the New England Patriots the day he shows up to camp.
Once again, the Patriots giving him a new deal would not be an issue with all the cap space available, especially considering the dire need to fill the wide receiver position.
While Sutton may not necessarily be a true No.1 option on a contending team, he would definitely fill that role in New England. His addition would give the Patriots offense hope that they haven’t seen in several years.
Main Image: Yannick Peterhans-USA TODAY Sports
