New England Patriots
NFL writer suggests Patriots trade for 2-time Pro Bowl receiver before Week 1
The first preseason game of the 2025 season took place on Thursday night, as the Chargers easily handled the Lions in the Hall of Fame Game. It wasn’t the prettiest football game you’ll ever see, but it was exciting to see any sort of football being played on the TV.
The Patriots are also getting ready for the season, and the roster looks much better than it did this time last season. In particular, the wide receiver room appears to be much improved and should be the scene of some stiff competition. Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Williams are all likely safe, which means there are several quality players, like Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne, competing for just two or three spots at most.
However, one NFL writer believes the Patriots could still be looking for more upgrades at receiver before the season begins. Terry McLaurin, who stars for the Commanders, officially requested a trade on Thursday, and will undoubtedly interest most of the teams in the league.
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report identified five realistic trade packages for McLaurin, and a package from the Patriots was included. In Moton’s scenario, the deal would like this:
New England Patriots Get:Â WR Terry McLaurin
Washington Commanders Get:Â 2026 2nd-rounder, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Ja’Lynn Polk
This would certainly help the logjam at receiver in Foxboro, and McLaurin would immediately be the best receiver on the team not named Diggs. In exchange, the Commanders get a reliable veteran in Bourne and a former second-round pick in Ja’Lynn Polk. Neither Bourne nor Polk have lived up to the Patriots’ expectations, so a change of scenery could be the best solution.
Of course, the Patriots would also have to part with an early draft pick in this scenario, which the team may be hesitant to do. However, the team welcomed in a large rookie class this year, so parting with a future pick while getting better immediately may be tempting.
