Patriots
A few notable veterans are still on the free-agent market while there could be a couple of enticing trade options.
The Patriots’ pursuits to land a big-name wide receiver this offseason have fallen short through the first week of free agency.
DK Metcalf went to the Steelers in a deal that included an extension. Chris Godwin opted to remain with the Buccaneers after hitting free agency. Cooper Kupp offered the latest blow to the Patriots’ chase for a top wide out, agreeing to a deal to join the Seahawks.
New England was linked to all three players, at least to varying degrees. It reportedly made Godwin a larger offer than Tampa Bay did and it was among the initial group of teams pursuing Kupp in free agency.
While there might not be options as strong as Metcalf, Godwin, or Kupp still available, there are a handful of other wide receivers on the open market or possibly available that could help Drake Maye in 2025. Let’s take a look at five of the best options.
Stefon Diggs
No other wide receiver on the free-agent market is as decorated as Diggs. He’s a two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler who recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards in each season between 2018-23. Diggs also led the league in receptions (127) and receiving yards (1,535) with the Bills in 2020, beginning a string of games where he dominated the Patriots. He was also productive in 2024, recording 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns in six games.
But there’s one big red flag to potentially signing Diggs: He’s a 31-year-old that’s coming off an ACL tear. The injury for the then-Texans wide receiver came in late October, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2024 season.
No timeline for when Diggs can return has been offered, but wide receivers have needed nearly a full year of rehab before returning to game action in recent seasons. Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, for instance, tore his ACL in late October of the 2023 season and didn’t play in his first game of the 2024 season until early October.
If there’s hope that Diggs can regain his explosiveness and separation ability soon, though, it’d be hard not to find many veteran receivers better than him.
Keenan Allen
As Diggs offers the highest upside of the remaining available free agents, Allen might be the closest sure thing on the open market.
The veteran wide receiver had another productive year in 2024, recording 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns in a Bears offense that struggled throughout the year. He’s had at least 700 receiving yards in all but one season of his 11-year career, with that one year coming when he played just one game due to injury.
There is a pretty big obstacle the Patriots might face in a potential pursuit for Allen, though. He told reporters in January that he was seeking to play in Chicago or for one of the Los Angeles teams in 2025. As he turns 33 in April, his comments to reporters potentially signaled that he could retire this offseason.
But with the Bears, Chargers, and Rams each adding receivers already this offseason, maybe there’s a chance for the Patriots to strike. As the Myles Garrett situation showed, everyone seems to have a price.
Brandon Aiyuk
The Patriots can opt to go down the Aiyuk path again this offseason. Aiyuk is available for trade this offseason, The Athletic’s Michael Silver previously reported.
Of course, there’s a reason why the 49ers are reportedly willing to trade Aiyuk a year after giving him a four-year, $120 million extension. He tore his ACL and MCL in October, ending his season after an underwhelming start to the year (25 receptions, 374 yards, zero touchdowns in seven games).
Still, Aiyuk would clearly be the Patriots’ most-talented wide receiver. As he turns 27 on Monday, Aiyuk was arguably one of the best receivers in football prior to his injury, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. In 2023, he had 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, earning second-team All-Pro honors.
An Aiyuk trade with a post-June 1 designation would help the 49ers clear over $6 million in cap space as they continue to remake their roster following an underwhelming six-win season in 2024. But what it would cost in draft pick compensation might be a bit difficult to chart as Aiyuk is just starting the aforementioned extension this season and is coming off a severe injury. San Francisco was reportedly seeking a second-round pick and an established receiver for him last offseason.
Tyler Lockett
At this point in his career, Lockett might not have the highest upside. The 32-year-old’s receiving yards have been on an annual decrease since 2021, recording 49 receptions for 600 yards and two touchdowns this past season. Those numbers were his lowest since the 2017 season.
But Lockett can double as a safety valve and valued leader for a young Patriots offense that can use one. He’s also recorded more snaps out wide than as a slot wide receiver since 2021, per Pro Football Focus. Sure, Lockett isn’t a deep threat, but he would almost certainly raise the floor of the Patriots’ receivers room.
Chris Olave
This one’s a bit more outside the box as Olave is still under contract and hasn’t demanded a trade, like Metcalf did earlier this offseason. But the Saints might be forced to make a decision on him this offseason. The 2022 first-round pick is extension eligible and the deadline for New Orleans to pick up his $15.16 million fifth-year option is on May 2.
Conventional thinking would suggest that the Saints pick up the 24-year-old’s fifth-year option before eventually extending him. However, he missed 11 games in 2024 after suffering two concussions, dealing with four concussions to this point in his NFL career.
As the concussions could cause the Saints to be wary of extending Olave, their cap situation for the foreseeable future isn’t ideal either, opting to kick more money down the road this offseason. A trade of Olave could allow the Saints to add some draft capital as they continue to remake their roster in Kellen Moore’s first season as head coach.
The Athletic‘s Chad Graff has also previously mentioned that the Patriots could “be ambitious” about possibly trading for Olave. Before his injury-shortened 2024 season, Olave recorded 70-plus catches and 1,000-plus yards in each of his first two years. So, that would certainly be an enticing option for the Patriots.
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