It looks like the New England Patriots have the real deal in Drake Maye. Although the rookie quarterback still has much growing to do, he showcased star potential in each of his first four NFL starts, including Sunday’s overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans.
“Josh Allen 2.0,” Patriots nose tackle Davon Godchaux said after the game when asked about Maye’s performance.
That’s all well and good, but the Patriots aren’t doing the still-raw Maye any favors by surrounding him with a weak supporting cast. New England still needs a true No. 1 receiver, and those don’t grow on trees.
Moreover, the upcoming free agency class isn’t great, and there’s no guarantee a top receiver will land on the trade market during the offseason. Hence why the Patriots were so aggressive in trying to acquire San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk last August.
So, the Patriots’ best options could be targeting a wideout early in the 2025 NFL Draft or trying to land an elite receiver talent before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Let’s focus on the latter option and, with recent trade rumors in mind, propose a deal that would address New England’s glaring WR issue.
What Are the Latest Patriots Trade Rumors?
The Patriots got an early start last week when they traded edge rusher Joshua Uche to the Kansas City Chiefs for a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. But Eliot Wolf and company likely aren’t done dealing.
“Patriots have told teams they are open for business,” Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi reported after the Uche trade. “League sources expect them to peel off another vet or two before the Nov. 5 deadline.”
And then there’s this Sunday morning report from NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport:
“Could the Patriots… buy? They could,” Rapoport wrote. “Similar to what the Bears did last year, New England could use the trade deadline to beef up its young talent base and start free agency early. They’ve already called on several players on the market and despite most assuming they’ll sell [which is possible], they could also buy in the right situation with a player who would be part of the Patriots’ future.”
Safety Kyle Dugger, cornerback Jonathan Jones, nose tackle Godchaux, and receivers Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn, and Tyquan Thornton all have popped up in trade rumors. Dugger, Osborn, and Thornton all were inactive on Sunday, although the former’s absence reportedly was due to his lingering ankle injury.
My understanding on Kyle Dugger's name showing up in trade stuff this week is because teams have called about him, knowing the Pats are willing sellers, but he's out today because of the ankle that kept him out last week as well, not because something is pending.
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) November 3, 2024
Osborn and Thornton seem like the players most likely to be dealt, although it’s also easy to envision the Patriots releasing both receivers after the trade deadline.
As for Dugger, Jones, Bourne, and Godchaux, the returns would have to outweigh the on- and off-field negatives of trading impactful players who are also respected in the locker room. To that end, it’s hard to imagine New England receiving anything better than a fourth-round pick for any of the four veterans.
With all that said, let’s zero in on Bourne and how he could factor into New England’s reported interest in buying at the deadline.
Proposed Trade: Patriots Acquire Tee Higgins
Patriots get: WR Tee Higgins
Bengals get: WR Kendrick Bourne, 2025 third-round pick
Case For
Higgins is a popular pre-deadline trade candidate, given his offseason contract dispute and looming free agency. The Cincinnati Bengals also likely will need to extend Ja’Marr Chase next offseason, potentially leaving little cap room for another large receiver contract.
However, a recent report indicates Higgins isn’t available.
“I was told they are not trading wideout Tee Higgins,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini wrote last week.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the Patriots can’t present the Bengals with an offer they can’t refuse. Plus, a Higgins trade might be the smartest move for Cincinnati despite its Super Bowl aspirations.
SECOND TD OF THE DAY FOR TEE HIGGINS! ✌️
✅ To Score 2+ TDs (+1300)
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/XkUFpwxGJP
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) October 6, 2024
The Bengals are projected to rank in the top half of the league in cap space next year, meaning there’s a chance they wouldn’t receive any compensatory picks if Higgins signs elsewhere. With this trade, they would land a high-upside wideout in Bourne while getting something for Higgins before he potentially leaves for nothing.
As for the Patriots, they could buy relatively low on a player whose recent injury history might reduce his value to lower than that of most top receivers. The Bengals really aren’t in a position to ask for a blockbuster package for Higgins, who’s posted 71 catches for 997 yards and eight touchdowns while missing nine games since the start of last season.
Adding Higgins wouldn’t turn the 2-7 Patriots into playoff contenders this season, but there could be major benefits to getting him into the building and developing chemistry with Maye. If an extension isn’t worked out immediately after the trade, the Patriots could use the rest of the season to sell Higgins on life in New England.
Case Against
For the 4-5 Bengals, it’s simple: Trading Higgins would lower their chances of winning a championship this season. Cincinnati was disappointing in the first half of the campaign but has more than enough talent to turn things around.
But there would be risks for the Patriots, too.
Higgins wants to be paid like a top receiver. He won’t accept anything less than the four-year, $92 million contract that Calvin Ridley got from the Tennessee Titans. In all likelihood, Higgins will want something like four years and $110 million.
Perhaps the Patriots would be willing to give him that right after the trade. However, if they instead committed to an offer more reflective of Higgins’ current value, New England could run into the same problem Cincinnati dealt with last offseason.
Sure, Higgins could sign a new deal with New England in free agency. But he also could leave for the highest bidder regardless of how much he enjoys playing with Maye. The Patriots shouldn’t make this kind of trade without having an agreement in place for a Higgins extension.
That will only happen if the Patriots meet Higgins’ demands. And you could argue Wolf should balk at paying Higgins like a top wideout before he gets on the field and earns it.
The Patriots, who currently have the most cap space in the league, also are unlikely to receive compensatory draft picks after free agency.
Ultimately, there’s a case to be made that New England should prioritize Maye’s development and do whatever it takes to land someone like Higgins, even if it requires an inflated contract. But this trade is far from a slam dunk.