The New England Patriots obviously need to add some weapons in the NFL offseason, and while the general consensus is they will continue Tee Higgins in free agency, a surprise target could emerge.
A perfect example is Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore.
You wouldn’t expect Moore to be readily available this offseason, but given the tough campaign the Bears just had, anything is possible.
Ben Solak of ESPN made a pretty bold trade prediction for the Patriots, saying they will either make a deal for Seattle Seahawks star DK Metcalf (which had already been proposed) or Moore.
“After trying (and failing) in the Tee Higgins market, the Patriots will put together a solid trade for a veteran receiver,” Solak wrote. “DK Metcalf and DJ Moore are the two names that make the most sense. The Patriots don’t mind sending away draft capital for immediate contributors, since they plan to trade up out of the No. 4 overall pick anyway.”
Moore just finished a rather disappointing season in which he caught 98 passes for 966 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 9.9 yards per catch. It was by far the lowest mark of his career, as he has a lifetime average of 13.5 yards per catch.
But here’s the thing: fellow Bears receiver Keenan Allen is also a free agent, so unless Chicago plans to re-sign Allen and give Rome Odunze an expanded role in 2025, the Bears would be very short on talent if they trade Moore in the coming months.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt for New England to ask.
Pats have plenty of hats heading into the offseason, but they had plenty of money available last year as well, and couldn’t land a big wideout.
If things don’t change come March, the Patriots may have no choice but to explore the trade market.
