Report: Patriots ‘Sniffing Around’ Trade Options At Tight End, Receiver

The New England Patriots will go after a tight end and receiver this offseason. The team will have to address some of the problems they had in 2019. Their offensive line was full of holes, and players made a lot of mistake. The NFL free agency will open in less than two weeks. MMQB’s Albert Breer reported Monday the Patriots are evaluating potential trades for these two positions.

“I’ve heard the Patriots have been sniffing around the trade market for receivers and tight ends,” Breer wrote in his latest “Monday Morning Quarterback” column, “which isn’t hugely unusual but is noteworthy given (Tom) Brady’s desire to play with a better supporting cast than he had in 2019.”

Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal said something similar last week. He reported that the Patriots “are expected to make a trade on offense before free agency that could change the equation dramatically for Brady.”

Patriots need a tight end and receiver for the win

ESPN’s Mike Reiss also wrote that New England is “expected to aggressively pursue various possibilities” at wideout and tight end. The team had a lot of problems at these two spots in 2019.

Free agents cannot engage in contract talks with other teams until March 16. That’s when the legal tampering period begins. But, teams can negotiate trades at any point of the offseason. Of course, the trades can’t be finalized until the new league years opens March 18.

Trading for a top-tier pass-catcher may help the Patriots keep Brady in New England. They should go after Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. or Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard. The 42-year-old quarterback will hit the open market next Wednesday for the first time in his career. Hopefully, the team’s offensive struggles will disappear in 2019.

Twenty-two NFL tight ends were able to catch more passes than Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo did as a group. They had 36 for 418 yards and two touchdowns in Year 1 of the post-Gronk era. The Patriots lacked a reliable No. 2 receiver behind Julian Edelman. Jules had more receptions (100) than Mohamed Sanu, Jakobi Meyers, N’Keal Harry and Phillip Dorsett combined.