Jerod Mayo never got out of the starting blocks as New England Patriots head coach in 2024, going 4-13 with a weak roster and he was fired very shortly after the season ended. The team quickly hired Mike Vrabel and owns the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. There is still a lot of work to be done in New England but there’s a sense of hope with Vrabel at the helm.
A major area of concern last season was the Patriots receiving corps. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye needs a better arsenal and one Patriots reporter wants the team to acquire a massive, $72 million downfield threat who just requested a trade.
Will Patriots Trade For Seattle’s DK Metcalf After WR Requests Trade?
Maye had many encouraging moments as a rookie but the New England offense struggled throughout 2024. In 13 games (12 starts), Maye threw for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. However, no skill player eclipsed 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
Rhamondre Stevenson led the rushing attack with 801 yards and seven touchdowns, and tight end Hunter Henry was the leading receiver with 66 catches, 67 yards, and two scores. The offense needs help and could add some with the fourth overall pick.
PFSN’s latest mock draft has New England snatching up Travis Hunter, but Patriots reporter Andrew Callahan thinks the team can add receiver help differently with Seattle Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf recently requesting a trade.
Callahan writes for the Boston Herald and tweeted that he came up with a hypothetical trade for Metcalf a couple of weeks ago.
The #Patriots have kicked the tires on a Metcalf trade, per me and @DougKyed.
Now it’s time to strike.I mapped this out this 2 weeks ago, including a trade back from No. 4 overall (still inside the top 10) to recoup a 2nd or 3rd-rounder lost in the deal.https://t.co/XvukjqHBRO https://t.co/N6uvxW7DR9 pic.twitter.com/efZ8ESk4kc
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) March 5, 2025
He tweeted, “I mapped this out 2 weeks ago, including a trade back from No. 4 overall (still inside the top 10) to recoup a 2nd or 3rd-rounder lost in the deal.”
About the trade he wrote, “Metcalf turned 27 in December, and had been on pace for a third consecutive 1,000-yard season before spraining his MCL last October. Metcalf remains a physical marvel at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, threatening defenses with rare long speed and strength. The Patriots have not fielded a weapon like him since prime Rob Gronkowski.
“In this scenario, the Patriots acquire Metcalf for the middle-to-back end of his prime at the expense of the 38th overall pick in this draft and a fourth-rounder next year that converts to a third-round pick if Metcalf makes the Pro Bowl in 2025.
The Patriots also grant Metcalf his sought-after extension that averages roughly $30 million annually, includes multi-year guarantees through 2027 and cuts him loose when he turns 30 and Drake Maye reaches the end of his cost-controlled rookie contract.
“Of note: Seahawks general manager John Schneider is close with Pats executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, whom he knows from their shared time in Green Bay.”
This would be a huge move by New England if it comes to fruition. From Weeks 1-7, Metcalf ranked 3rd in the NFL with 568 receiving yards and had a 21.3% target rate. After returning from his knee injury, Metcalf ranked 33rd with 424 receiving yards and had a 17.9% target rate. In 15 games last season, he had 66 receptions, 992 yards, and five touchdowns.
Metcalf is one of the premier No. 1 receivers in the league and would bolster any offense, but is this a posturing move to get more money out of Seattle? He’s the 13th-highest paid receiver in the NFL and is entering the final non-void year of his contract with no guaranteed money. The Patriots should be willing to pay for any player who can inject life into the offense, so this trade scenario could have legs.