5 potential commerce targets for Patriots outdoors of Maxx Crosby, A.J. Brown
New England Patriots
A number of gamers at positions of want for the Patriots are rumored to be commerce candidates within the coming weeks.

Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby is the highest prize on the NFL commerce market this offseason, and Eagles large receiver A.J. Brown has been linked to the Patriots for fairly a while. However they aren’t the one notable gamers who may get traded this offseason.
A number of different gamers at positions of want for the Patriots are rumored to be commerce candidates within the coming weeks. There appears to be a handful of large receivers, particularly, who may hit the commerce market attributable to a wide range of causes.
In fact, the Patriots may add in free company as they’ve roughly $40 million in cap area, or they might swing a deal for one of many high two commerce candidates this offseason. But when the Patriots choose to handle a few of their key wants on the commerce market, listed below are 5 different gamers that will make sense for them to think about.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Colts
Pittman could be the odd man out in Indianapolis between his large wage cap quantity ($29 million) and the crew’s potential pursuit to maintain large receiver Alec Pierce. Nonetheless, Pittman continues to be a high quality participant.
The 28-year-old large receiver logged 80 receptions for 784 yards and 7 touchdowns this previous season. Whereas Pittman’s receiving yards had been the fewest since his rookie season in 2020, he logged a minimum of 800 receiving yards in every of the earlier 4 seasons with some fairly bad-to-mediocre quarterback play. He’s had a pair of 1,000-yard seasons as nicely, logging 109 catches for 1,152 yards in 2023.
Pittman has performed on the surface for many of his profession, however he’s additionally performed a good variety of snaps within the slot, too. Roughly one-third of his snaps got here within the slot final season, and he’s graded out as an OK run blocker in his profession. So, he may very well be an inexpensive candidate to interchange Stefon Diggs if the Patriots transfer on from the veteran this offseason.
If the Patriots had been to make a deal for Pittman, they could have to increase him or rework his contract. Any crew that trades for him this offseason can be on the hook for a $24 million cap hit in 2026, which continues to be a fairly large quantity.
DJ Moore, WR, Bears
Just like Pittman, Moore is being rumored as a potential commerce candidate as a result of the Bears need to rearrange a few of their property.
Moore, who’ll flip 29 in April, had a productive yr in 2025, even when it was statistically the worst yr of his eight-year profession. He logged 50 receptions for 682 yards and 6 touchdowns because the Bears’ offense took a way more balanced strategy on offense. Earlier than final season, Moore recorded a minimum of 90 receptions and over 900 receiving yards in every of the earlier two seasons.
Additionally like Pittman, Moore has largely performed on the surface in his profession, however has performed a good variety of snaps within the slot and been an honest run blocker. Nonetheless, he’s been greatest utilized as a deep risk through the years, logging 16 landing grabs on deep throws (20-plus air yards) over the past 4 seasons.
And identical to Pittman, buying and selling for Moore would additionally possible require some contract adjustment. Whoever trades for Moore this offseason would tackle a $24.5 million cap hit, which could be a bit too wealthy for any crew.
Walker Little, OL, Jaguars
It’s apparent that the Patriots may enhance their offensive line this offseason. Sadly for them, there aren’t many standout veteran offensive linemen who grow to be accessible for commerce or in free company.
Little can be an intriguing addition, although. The 26-year-old has largely performed at left deal with in his profession, however he struggled this previous season as he allowed 9 sacks and 45 pressures in 14 video games this previous season, per Professional Soccer Focus. Nonetheless, Little battled a hamstring damage as he had the worst season of his five-year profession.
Whereas Little has largely performed left deal with, he additionally has expertise at guard and proper deal with. He hasn’t allowed a sack within the 5 video games he’s performed at guard in his profession, exhibiting he can a minimum of deal with taking part in on the inside of the offensive line. So, if Will Campbell is the Patriots’ left deal with shifting ahead, Little may slot in at left guard.
Whoever trades for Little this season can be on the hook for $12 million. That isn’t an outrageous quantity, and he’s beneath contract by way of the top of the 2027 season.
Uchenna Nwosu, EDGE, Seahawks
It’s uncommon to see a productive participant on the defending Tremendous Bowl champion seem on an inventory like this. However the Seahawks have a handful of key gamers set to hit free company this offseason, and Nwosu would appear to be a logical commerce candidate contemplating his age (29) and cap hit ($20.7 million).
So, Nwosu can be a powerful goal for the Patriots in the event that they had been to lose Okay’Lavon Chaisson in free company this offseason. Nwosu had seven sacks this previous season, logging 46 pressures, per PFF. Whereas he didn’t have a sack within the postseason, Nwosu had 9 pressures within the postseason, together with 4 within the Seahawks’ Tremendous Bowl LX win over the Patriots. He additionally had the pick-six that primarily sealed Seattle’s win.
Nwosu handled a number of accidents within the 2023 and 2024 seasons that pressured him to play simply 12 video games over these two years. Nonetheless, he’s clearly been productive when wholesome as he had 9.5 sacks in 17 video games for the Seahawks in 2022.
Any crew that trades for Nwosu this offseason would tackle a $11.5 million cap hit. That’s definitely an inexpensive quantity for a participant of his caliber, however he’s additionally coming into the ultimate yr of his present deal. Meaning he’ll most likely desire a new contract this offseason, no matter whether or not he will get traded.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars
Thomas is arguably the highest participant on this record. He definitely has the very best upside as he’s solely 23 and already has a 1,000-yard season to his identify.
However there’s additionally a cause why Thomas is on this record. He had an underwhelming Yr 2, logging 48 catches for 707 yards and simply two touchdowns. Some questioned if he’s a slot in head coach Liam Coen’s offense, because the crew nonetheless had a powerful yr. Others questioned if Thomas didn’t attempt as exhausting as he ought to’ve this previous yr, with a number of performs exhibiting the large receiver showing to offer a lower than stellar effort on some routes.
There’s nonetheless clearly some expertise in Thomas, although. He had 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, proving to be a big-play risk on the surface. He’d definitely add a component to the Patriots’ offense that they presently lack along with his skill to make large performs constantly.
Contemplating Thomas is simply two years faraway from being a first-round decide, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Jaguars requested for comparable worth again in a commerce. ESPN’s Invoice Barnwell just lately floated the concept of the Payments buying and selling large receiver Keon Coleman and their 2026 first-round decide for Thomas and a fifth-round decide. So, that could be what the Patriots have to surrender to be able to hand Drake Maye a star large receiver.
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