The New England Patriots have a lot of needs, but one of the things they require most is a true No. 1 receiver.

Yes, the Patriots have some decent names like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Devante Parker, but neither of those guys are top-flight wide outs and would fare much better with an elite-level guy in the mix with them.

How about Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Mike Evans?

Evans was unable to reach an agreement with the Buccaneers on a new contract prior to the start of the season, meaning the Tampa Bay fixture with hit free agency in the spring. For that reason, the Bucs could decide to move Evans ahead of the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline to extract some value for him.

It should be noted that the Buccaneers are 2-0 and play in the terribly weak NFC South, so they probably aren’t entertaining the thought of moving Evans just yet. However, it is pretty clear that Tampa Bay is not a legitimate Super Bowl contender, so the possibility remains that Evans’ time with the club could be coming to a swift end.

Should the Bucs bite the bullet and decide to place Evans on the trade block, the Patriots could represent a terrific fit for the veteran.

Pats quarterback Mac Jones could certainly use Evans’ talent in the aerial attack, as Jones has struggled over the course of his first three NFL seasons.

Evans is widely regarded as one of the league’s top wide receivers and set an NFL record by registering nine straight 1,000-yard campaigns to begin his career.

The 30-year-old is still as productive as ever, as he has already logged 12 catches for 237 yards and a couple of touchdowns through the first two weeks of 2023.

New England could send a 2024 first-round draft pick plus a fourth-rounder to Tampa Bay in exchange for Mike Evans. That way, the Pats land an elite pass-catcher, and the Bucs will bring in a very satisfying haul for the soon-to-be free agent.