The New England Patriots are heading into what is a must-win game against the New York Jets in Week 3. Already 0-2, they cannot afford to fall to 0-3 otherwise their season is essentially over. There is certainly no shame in losing to the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins, but the Patriots need a victory in the worst way.
One of the biggest issues that New England has faced thus far this season is the lack of explosiveness and big plays in their passing game. They are still lacking a true No. 1, go-to receiver for Mac Jones to work with.
Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is doing what he can to get the most out of this group, but they are lacking impactful talent. That is why Jordy McElroy of USA TODAY Sports Media Group has compiled a list of five wide receivers that the team should target this season.
The first player on the list is Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After not agreeing to a contract extension before the season, Evans’ future in Tampa Bay is up in the air. The Buccaneers don’t want to trade him, and at 2-0, why would they? But if the season spirals, getting draft capital in exchange for him makes a lot of sense.
Next up is Keenan Allen of the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers have invested a lot into the wide receiver position recently, signing Mike Williams to an extension and selecting Quentin Johnston in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. It is hard to imagine there being a long-term spot for Allen on the roster.
Another option the Patriots could consider is Jerry Jeudy of the Denver Broncos. New England was reportedly one of the teams interested in Juedy this offseason and they should pick up the phone and try again. Also at 0-2, it would not be surprising is Sean Payton starts shuffling the roster even more.
If the Patriots want to make a huge splash, someone such as Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders would suffice. There was some contention this offseason between Adams and the Raiders as rumors swirled about him wanting to be traded. Nothing came to fruition, but more losses piling up could bring those rumors back to life.
Last but not least, we have Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals. While the Bengals have been adamant they aren’t trading Higgins, the writing is on the wall about his future with the team. It is hard to envision Cincinnati being able to pay him and Ja’Marr Chase, making Higgins a logical trade target for the Patriots.
