Drake Maye has the New England Patriots offense moving downfield this season.
Week after week, Maye is showing that he is capable of being the next franchise quarterback for the six-time Super Bowl-winning team.
The Patriot is one of five quarterbacks to have more than 2,000 passing yards in the league after Week 8. Maye is throwing for nine yards per attempt as the undisputed starter in Foxborough under new head coach Mike Vrabel. Maye currently has 15 pass touchdowns this season, which ties him for the sixth most in the league.
The former North Carolina Tar Heel has been performing well with an older supporting cast around him. One NFL analyst believes the Pats should acquire a younger offensive weapon to pair with Maye and help the franchise for the future.
Patriots Trade For AFC South Receiver
GettyBrian Thomas Jr. #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars
The New England Patriots receiving core currently has an average age of 26.2 years old, with some of the more productive players on offense being on the older side.
Looking forward to building a strong future, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes the Patriots should trade for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr, who is off to a slow start from his Pro Bowl rookie season.
“Though the Patriots seemed to have one of the league’s worst receiving corps a year ago, their offense has been perfectly functional this season. The arrival of head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels—along with the addition of wideout Stefon Diggs—has helped quarterback Drake Maye reach an MVP level of play,” Knox wrote.
“However, the Patriots could use a young receiver who can grow alongside Maye for the foreseeable future—Diggs will turn 32 in November. They could also use any edge they can get to stay ahead of the Bills in the AFC East… Preventing Thomas from landing in Buffalo might be reason enough for New England to make an offer.”
Knox believes that for the Patriots to acquire Thomas Jr, the team will need to give up linebacker Martu Mape and a 2026 second-round draft pick.
The Jags receiver has registered 365 yards and a single touchdown this season on 27 receptions through seven games, which is almost 100 yards lower than his first seven games as a rookie last season.
In his rookie season, Thomas Jr logged 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns for Jacksonville. The Jags WR finished fourth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting last season.
If traded to the Patriots, he would provide an immediate threat to opposing defenses in New England’s pass-focused offense.
Jags HC Affirms Brian Thomas Will Remain
GettyJacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen
The trade deadline is a week away and the Jacksonville Jaguars have made it clear that they will not trade the young wide receiver.’
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said earlier this week that the team has no intention of trading the second-year offensive weapon.
“We have no plans on moving Brian Thomas Jr at all,” the head coach told the media, via ESPN. “Saw something about that over the weekend… Good, bad or indifferent, what’s happened in the first seven games, we all have the opportunity to write a narrative. We own the narrative.”
“I got a lot of confidence in him, I really do believe that we can turn the corner and get better in the pass game that way.”
Though Brian Thomas Jr is off to a slow start, he still has the chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence to help turn his season around.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Trade Pitch Lands Patriots Former Pro Bowl Rookie appeared first on Heavy Sports.