The New England Patriots had a relatively quiet offseason, going about their business as usual as they filled some of the needs on their roster. They sought out more weapons to put around Mac Jones and did accomplish that goal.
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was signed to become the team’s No. 1 option after Jakobi Meyers left for the Las Vegas Raiders. Some continuity will be kept at the position with DeVante Parker signing an extension as well. Tight end Mike Gesicki was signed away from the Miami Dolphins to help offset the loss of Jonnu Smith, who was traded to the Atlanta Falcons.
While both are solid moves, the Patriots shouldn’t hesitate to make another addition should the opportunity present itself. And that is exactly what Joe Tansey of Bleacher Report suggested that the team should do.
Tansey shared three shocking trade ideas for New England to pursue before the season starts and unsurprisingly, most of the suggestions were to further upgrade the offense around Jones. The first suggestion was acquiring Courtland Sutton from the Denver Broncos.
Sutton is one of the wide receivers that has been involved in trade rumors all offseason as Denver starts the Sean Payton era. Trading him would clear a lot of cap space for the Broncos, which they could need in the coming seasons. Also, acquiring some draft capital would be ideal after deals for Payton and Russell Wilson cleared them out.
Another wide receiver target mentioned for the Patriots is Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati likely isn’t going to move the emerging star as they have Super Bowl aspirations and he combines with Ja’Marr Chase to give Joe Burrow the best wide receiver duo in the NFL.
However, Higgins is capable of being a No. 1 option and would have that chance in New England. If the Bengals realize they won’t be able to pay Higgins with extensions for Chase and Burrow on the horizon, they can get a strong trade package in return for him.
Acquiring Higgins would provide Jones with the kind of upgrade to the passing game he needs to thrive. But, if the Patriots are ready to move on from the 2021 first-round pick, Tansey suggested they make a deal for Ryane Tannehill.
The Tennessee Titans’ veteran signal-caller is nearing the end of the line for his tenure in Nashville. In the opinion of some, bringing in Tannehill may not be seen as a major upgrade. But, he is only one season removed from leading the Titans to the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
If New England wants a stop-gap veteran before finding a new long-term option in 2024, Tannehill would at least provide them the chance to compete for a playoff spot this season.
