The New England Patriots are reportedly eyeing a potential trade for a former Offensive Player of the Year to bolster their receiving corps for the 2025 NFL season. With limited options in free agency and the NFL Draft, the Patriots may turn to the trade market to acquire much-needed talent.
Patriots’ Receiver Woes Holding Back Offense
Since losing Julian Edelman, New England’s wide receiver room has been a debilitating weakness. No Patriots receiver has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards since Edelman in 2019. In 2024, the Patriots’ passing attack ranked near the bottom of the league with tight end Hunter Henry leading the team in receiving yards.
Attempts to upgrade the position in the post-Edelman era have failed. The team drafted wideout K’Neal Harry with their first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, then dealt him to Chicago before the 2022 season. In the 2022 NFL Draft, New England took Baylor wideout Tyquan Thornton in the second round, but his anemic numbers and playing time have declined each year in the league.
Meanwhile, 2023’s sixth-rounder DeMario Douglas emerged as the top wideout the past two seasons. Fellow 2023 sixth-rounder Kayshon Boutte stepped up in 2024, finishing second among wideouts behind Douglas in receiving.
Javon Baker, New England’s fourth-rounder in 2024, had only one catch on four targets his rookie season. Ja’Lynn Polk, the team’s second-rounder in 2024, averaged less than one reception and six receiving yards per game.
A trade for San Francisco’s Brandon Aiyuk was unsuccessful and the team missed out on signing veteran DeAndre Hopkins in free agency.
Though New England placed 26th on PFSN’s 2024 Offense Rankings, author Sterling Xie noted, “Of the teams toward the bottom quartile of our rankings, this is the one with the most upward mobility over the next 12 months, particularly with a new coaching staff set to arrive.”
Why Cooper Kupp Makes Sense for the Patriots
In his article on one trade every NFL team should make in the 2025 offseason, Xie predicted the Patriots would trade for Los Angeles wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
While no longer in his prime, Cooper Kupp would provide a boost to the Patriots’ receiving corps. The former Super Bowl MVP has a proven track record of production when healthy.
MORE: Simulate the NFL Offseason With PFSN’s Offseason Manager
Even in a down year in 2024, Kupp averaged 1.99 yards per route run, ranking 26th among all wide receivers. That number was higher than any Patriots wide receiver has averaged in a season since Kendrick Bourne in 2021.
At 31 years old, Kupp still possesses the route-running savvy and reliable hands, making him a thorn in the side of most opposing defenses. In 12 games played in 2024, Kupp recorded 59 catches for 737 yards and five touchdowns.
What Would the Patriots Have To Give Up To Land Kupp?
The asking price will likely be modest, given Kupp’s age and injury history. When the Kansas City Chiefs acquired 32-year-old DeAndre Hopkins during the 2024 season, they only gave up a conditional fifth-round pick.
A similar offer could work for a Kupp trade. The Patriots could present a conditional late-round pick that could escalate based on Kupp’s playing time and production in New England.
Kupp’s Fit in New England’s Offense
While not a true No. 1 receiver at this stage of his career, Kupp would immediately become the top receiver on the Patriots’ roster. His ability to work the middle of the field and create separation would be huge for Drake Maye. Kupp has been a monster when it comes to third-down and red-zone opportunities.
Kupp would provide a veteran presence and sure hands to a receiver room that has lacked consistency. He could pair well with emerging slot receiver Douglas and offer mentorship to the young talent.
The most significant risk in acquiring Kupp is his track record of injuries. He’s missed at least five games in each of the past three seasons. New England may also structure the trade compensation to protect against potential injuries.
Salary Cap Considerations for the Patriots
Kupp is set to carry a $29.78 million cap hit in 2025. While the Patriots have ample cap space (over $120 million), they would likely look to restructure Kupp’s contract to lower that figure. This could involve converting some of his base salary to a signing bonus or adding void years to spread the cap hit.
While not a long-term solution, trading for Kupp could provide the Patriots with a much-needed talent infusion at a premium position. His veteran leadership and dependable production could help jumpstart New England’s passing game as they look to build around Maye.
Could the Patriots Have Any Options in the NFL Draft?
In PFSN’s latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft, the Patriots selected WR/CB Travis Hunter out of Colorado, further bolstering their team on both sides of the football, according to PFSN’s Brentley Weissman.
“With the quarterback-needy teams ahead of them, the New England Patriots can stand pat and get arguably the most talented prospects in this year’s class. Travis Hunter is a unicorn as he is not just the best corner in this class but also the best wide receiver,” Weissman said.
“The Patriots need help at receiver as they lack playmakers for their young quarterback, Drake Maye. It makes sense to take Hunter here and pair him with Maye to give them a dynamic passing duo for years to come.”
While a theoretical Kupp trade would certainly lessen the need for a wide receiver, that would not necessarily preclude New England from drafting Hunter if given the opportunity. Hunter could start primarily as a corner and play minimally on offense, learning more nuance on offense while focusing his attention on defense, pairing with Christian Gonzalez to make a lethal CB duo.
However, if the Patriots do not land a player like Kupp, Hunter could serve as a more regular member of the team’s receiver rotation, bolstering a unit that is among the league’s worst.
There are plenty of other mid-round receiver options the Patriots could pursue, including Jayden Higgins, Elic Ayomanor, and Tre Harris.
The Pats have picks at Nos. 4, 38, and 69, in the current NFL Draft order, and they could use any of these picks to select a wide receiver in a deep class. To see who’s available, try PFSN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator With Trades.