Ranking 5 recent Patriots trades for high profile wide receivers

Commerce rumors surrounding A.J. Brown aren’t halting anytime quickly, and the Patriots have lengthy been linked as one of the best match to accumulate him.

Though Brown didn’t produce at his standard fee in 2025, he’s nonetheless solely 28 years outdated and might be an affect addition to any group if the Eagles determined to deal him.

On account of his contract construction, although, a commerce for Brown can be unlikely to happen till after June 1. Philadelphia would take in a lot much less useless cash on its wage cap if it waits till the summer time.

Whereas groups await a fallout of the potential Brown sweepstakes, listed below are 5 large receiver trades in current reminiscence, and the way every acquisition panned out for the Patriots.

Randy Moss

This was greatest case situation for the Patriots, buying Moss from the Raiders for a mere fourth-round decide. Moss turned again into his Minnesota Vikings type and set an NFL file for many touchdowns in a single season with 23.

He achieved that in his first season in New England, and the file nonetheless holds virtually 20 years later. He had over 3,900 yards and 50 touchdowns across his four seasons with the franchise.

Although Moss didn’t win a Tremendous Bowl with the Patriots, he was an enormous motive why they gained two AFC Championships (2007, 2011). Moss is without doubt one of the greatest receivers in NFL historical past, and New England obtained 4 years out of him for a day three draft decide.

Evaluation: Dwelling run acquisition.

Wes Welker

In some way, two of one of the best large receiver trades the Patriots have made within the final 25 years each got here in 2007.

The identical yr they introduced in Moss, New England acquired one other franchise cornerstone in Wes Welker from the Miami Dolphins. His match with Moss was excellent, and he rapidly become one of the vital prolific slot receivers within the NFL at the moment.

Like Moss, Welker additionally didn’t win a Tremendous Bowl with the Patriots. However he paved the best way for different slot receivers to have success in New England’s system.

Evaluation: Strong addition, even higher as a complementary piece to Moss.

Brandin Cooks

The drop-off after Moss and Welker is pretty vital, however Cooks was nonetheless a significant addition to the tail finish of the Brady period in New England.

Cooks’s 2017 season noticed him rack up 1,082 yards and 7 touchdowns, definitely a formidable stat line for him primarily based on his numbers with New Orleans. The one hassle with Cooks is that he was solely on the town for that lone season, because the Patriots traded him to the Rams in 2018.

Cooks did eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in three of his subsequent 4 seasons, so it’s doable Invoice Belichick gave up on him too early. However both method, the Brandin Cooks commerce didn’t reside as much as how good it’d’ve been on paper.

Evaluation: Stuffed a necessity, however wasn’t round lengthy sufficient to be a needle-mover.

Brandon Lloyd

Lloyd falls into a really comparable boat as Cooks, though his one season in Foxborough is a bit more disappointing given the circumstances.

Although Lloyd was in his tenth season when the Patriots acquired him in 2012, he was just one yr faraway from his greatest receiving season ever. Lloyd recorded 1,448 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2010 with the Broncos; Josh McDaniels was his head coach throughout that career-defining yr.

So, when Belichick acquired him in 2012 and paired him again up with McDaniels, he was certainly hoping lightning would strike twice. And to his credit score, Lloyd didn’t have a foul yr. However 911 yards and 4 touchdowns wasn’t precisely excellent both.

Lloyd wasn’t even enjoying soccer in 2013, and after one 294-yard season in 2014, he was out of the league for good. Protected to say Lloyd’s acquisition was largely forgettable.

Evaluation: Remarkably underwhelming.

Josh Gordon

On the whole, Josh Gordon’s profession is crammed with what-ifs. But when he might have lasted with the Patriots, it’s simple to imagine he would have thrived long-term with Tom Brady.

Gordon proved he nonetheless had loads within the tank when New England acquired him in 2018. Sadly, his off-field points adopted him to Foxborough and reduce his time with the group brief.

Nonetheless, Gordon was a real No. 1 receiver menace when he was obtainable. He recorded over 700 yards in 11 video games in 2018 earlier than he was suspended once more that December.

Technically, he’s the one receiver of those 5 to win a hoop with the Patriots, although he wasn’t round for the playoff run itself.

Evaluation: Didn’t work out, however might have been unbelievable.