The 2025 NFL offseason is heating up, which means it is time for the New England Patriots to get busy. After swapping out Jerod Mayo for Mike Vrabel at head coach, the Patriots must improve their roster from high to backside, whether or not or not it’s by means of free company, the commerce market, or the 2025 NFL draft. With the free agent market set to open in lower than every week, although, that’s the fast focus in the meanwhile.
New England has a number of massive wants they’ve to handle this offseason, and none of them could also be extra urgent than the huge receiver place. Fortunately, there are a number of massive identify choices accessible in free company and on the commerce market, so with the rumor mill actually starting to get spicy, let’s run by means of the Patriots huge receiver wishlist earlier than issues get hectic.
The Jacksonville Jaguars shocked a whole lot of of us after they signed Christian Kirk to a four-year, $72 million contract again in 2022, however he promptly turned in the most efficient season of his profession that season, hauling in 84 receptions for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns. His manufacturing tailed off over the subsequent two seasons, with Brian Thomas Jr. cementing himself because the Jags high receiver in 2024 as a rookie.
That made Kirk expendable, with Jacksonville releasing him on Wednesday with the intention to save a bit of over $10 million in cap area. Accidents restricted Kirk to simply eight video games final season, however when he is wholesome, he can do some little bit of every part. Kirk is a shifty route runner who excels within the short-to-intermediate areas of the sector, and proper now, New England wants a number of guys who can get open for Drake Maye.
Kirk’s worth is not as excessive because it was again in 2022, however he ought to nonetheless earn a strong contract now that he is on the open market. Ideally, Kirk can be added along with one other wideout, as he profiles as extra of a No. 2 man than the de facto high possibility. If the worth is true, although, the Pats ought to pounce and attempt to scoop Kirk up on a team-friendly deal.
The chance of Davante Adams ending up with New England is low, because it appears he’ll probably both crew up along with his longtime quarterback Aaron Rodgers once more, or head to the opposite aspect of the nation and be part of a crew on the west coast. However Adams continues to be among the best huge receivers within the recreation, which means the Patriots can be silly to not make a push for him on the very least.
Adams break up his time in 2024 with the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets, and despite the fact that he missed three video games, he was nonetheless extremely productive, catching 85 passes for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns. Adams is about to enter his age 33 season, and whereas the Jets have been depressing even after buying and selling for him final season, he nonetheless proved himself to be close to the highest of his recreation.
Whereas Kirk is not essentially the highest pass-catching possibility that an offense can lean on, Adams is, which is why pursuing him is sensible for the Patriots, even when signing him should be seen as a longshot. New England has money to burn, although, so in the event that they blow the opposite gives Adams has on the desk out of the water, might they discover a strategy to get a deal finished right here?
One of many worst saved secrets and techniques within the NFL was confirmed on Wednesday when DK Metcalf formally requested a commerce off of the Seattle Seahawks. Metcalf has been seen as the highest commerce goal for the Patriots at huge receiver for months now, and experiences have indicated that after having tepid curiosity at first, they’ve ramped issues up over the previous couple of days.
2024 was not Metcalf’s finest season, however he was nonetheless productive, racking up 66 receptions for 992 yards and 5 touchdowns. His function within the offense decreased because the season went on, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba changing into Geno Smith’s high possibility within the passing recreation. Make no mistake, although; Metcalf continues to be probably the most bodily imposing huge receivers within the recreation, and a change of surroundings ought to profit him.
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Metcalf is a big-play risk each time he steps on the sector, and his massive body makes him an ideal goal for Maye, who has proven he is able to airing the ball out down the sector. The difficulty with Metcalf is that he does not appear too receptive to a transfer for Foxboro, Massachusetts, so if his arrival creates extra complications for the crew, it might be finest to look elsewhere.
With Tee Higgins getting franchise tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals once more, that leaves Chris Godwin as arguably the highest possibility at huge receiver in free company. This is not the primary time the Patriots have been linked to Godwin, however experiences point out that they are going to be going all-in on him now that Higgins is now not accessible.
Godwin was within the technique of placing collectively the very best season of his profession in 2024 earlier than he suffered a dislocated ankle in Week 7 that lower his season brief. In his seven video games performed, Godwin was arguably the most efficient huge receiver within the league, grabbing 50 passes for 576 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Regardless that he is coming off a severe damage, Godwin goes to receives a commission this offseason. A return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is not off the desk, but when he hits the open market, he will have his suitors. Godwin can do every part at a excessive degree, and whereas he’ll probably should shake off some rust when he returns to the sector, he is the highest free agent New England ought to pursue at this place.
Maybe probably the most shocking improvement early on this offseason has been the notion that the Patriots do not have curiosity in buying and selling for Los Angeles Rams huge receiver Cooper Kupp. Positive, he hasn’t come near producing like he did in his historic 2021 marketing campaign over the previous three years, however he is handled accidents whereas additionally being changed because the crew’s high possibility within the passing recreation by Puka Nacua.
Kupp revealed that the Rams are going to discover trades for him this offseason, and it isn’t too onerous to see why. With Nacua’s ascent, buying and selling Kupp permits Los Angeles to take a position extra in different areas of their roster. In 2024, Kupp caught 67 balls for 710 yards and 6 touchdowns, and whereas they don’t seem to be standout numbers, he had some massive outings alongside the best way (14 catches, 110 yards, one landing in Week 1) that proved he nonetheless may be the participant he was in 2021 if given the prospect to take action.
On paper, Kupp is the highest possibility accessible for New England this offseason. He is exactly what this offense wants; a crisp route-runner with dependable palms who can get open in any respect three ranges of the sector and make issues occur when he has the ball in his palms. Past that, he’ll price much less when it comes to cash and belongings given to the Rams with the intention to get a deal finished. Kupp is the best choice for the Patriots; let’s simply hope they’ll come to their senses and notice that earlier than it is too late.