The Patriots came out of the 2025 offseason having shown that they are serious about vaulting back into playoff contention after back-to-back 4-win seasons, thanks to a $300 million spending spree in free agency. There are still significant questions, though, especially at wide receiver, a position that has proven a puzzle for New England for years.
The Patriots brought in Stefon Diggs, recovering from a torn ACL last season in Houston, to be the new WR1, and he has the pedigree for the job–more than 10,000 yards receiving and six straight years with 1,100-plus yards in the air before last season. But with the injury, his age (31) and a history of questionable antics, Diggs is an iffy proposition.
In fact, he was at least the third choice for Patriots’ WR1 role. The team tried hard to sign Chris Godwin, who did not want to leave Tampa Bay, and tried to trade for DK Metcalf, who did not want to play in New England.
It stands to reason that the Patriots, if another WR1 candidate were to come on the market as training camp is set to ramp up, would have a distinct interest. And as the contract conflict between veteran Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin and the Commanders heats up, one NFL insider with New England roots–Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated–says you can count the Patriots in.
Patriots Would Be ‘Very Interested’ in New Addition
Breer, speaking on NBC Sports Boston on Wednesday said the Patriots would certainly do a cost-benefit analysis on the prospect of a McLaurin trade, if he requests one … which he has not. Yet.
“I think the Patriots would be very interested in this,” Breer said on “Early Edition,” via NESN.com. “Now, there’s a price point for all of it. What would that mean? Obviously, he’s not going to come here with an unresolved contract situation so you’d be talking about a draft pick plus a contract.
“But certainly as far as what they’re looking for from a person, as a player, helping Drake Maye — this guys checks every box.”
McLaurin has been a star for the Commanders, with five straight 1,000-yard seasons even as the team has shuffled through a series of mediocre quarterbacks. But he formed an excellent relationship with Jaden McDaniels last season, and went for a career-high 13 touchdowns.
Terry McLaurin Frustrated in Washington
McLaurin, in the final year of a three-year, $68 million contract, expressed frustration with the lack of a new deal from the Commanders this week. McLaurin is 17th in AAV payout for 2025, at $22.8 million, per Spotrac.
“With how the market is today it conveys what guys of my caliber are deserving of,” he said. “I feel I fit in that box because of how I’ve carried myself on and off the field. I don’t want to feel like you have to beg for someone to see your worth and value. Everything in previous regimes and now I’ve done everything asked of me.”
He went on: “It’s obviously the compensation, but it’s kind of like the confusion. All year you feel like you’re a part of something. You earned the right to be a captain.
“When you have that type of production, when you know how people value you and see you have told you to your face and then you see how it’s progressing until this point, that’s very disappointing. I’m just trying to get some clarity. Shoot it to me straight.”
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