It's no secret: The New England Patriots need more offensive weapons.
Wide receiver is a primary need for New England this offseason; Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne were the only Patriots wideouts who topped 500 receiving yards in 2021, as Nelson Agholor and N'Keal Harry underwhelmed in their roles.
Nearly all of the NFL's top free-agent wide receivers are off the market, though, and running back/wide receiver hybrid Ty Montgomery is the only skill player New England has added in free agency on a modest two-year deal.
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Perry: Potential trade targets at WR and CB for Patriots
So, what's Bill Belichick's plan? ESPN's Jeremy Fowler provided some insight Wednesday, reporting that the team "wasn't comfortable overspending" for a receiver in free agency and noting that Russell Gage's three-year, $30 million contract with Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers was too rich for Belichick's blood.
"New England exhausted all (wide receiver) options on the middle and lower tiers (in free agency), and still nothing popped," Fowler wrote.
The Patriots have just over $10 million in cap space and have the flexibility to create more and bring in a high-profile wideout. According to Fowler, though, a big deal for a wideout could mean the team loses one of the compensatory draft picks it's set to land after losing cornerback J.C. Jackson and offensive lineman Ted Karras in free agency.
New England Patriots
That philosophy suggests New England is prioritizing draft capital over big-name free agents, a shift in tactics from a 2021 offseason in which they spent a record $163 million in guaranteed money on free agents.
But Fowler also noted the Patriots are expected to "comb the (trade) market" for wide receiver options. As our Phil Perry wrote Wednesday, the team has a history of finding value on the trade market at this time of year, and Perry floated New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton as a potential Patriots target.
Our Tom E. Curran also tabbed Seattle Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett as a possibility for New England, while Cleveland's Jarvis Landry and former Patriot Brandin Cooks look like trade candidates as well.
The Patriots have been pretty frugal this offseason, so it seems unlikely they'd take on a big contract at wide receiver despite their need at the position. But there's at least some hope that the team could add another offensive weapon via the trade market ahead of April's 2022 NFL Draft.