There is no question that the 2025 New England Patriots were a historic bunch, having pulled off a 10-game turnaround and returned the franchise to the AFC Championship Game, a place that was their domain for nearly two decades–the Patriots went to 13 conference title games in 18 years starting in 2001.
There’s also no question that, if we allow ourselves to peek ahead, the 2026 Patriots will look slightly different than this year’s bunch. That’s the nature of the NFL. But New England is in a good position because, with an acre of cap space still available ($26 million before restructures and other moves) the offseason, with a roster that was one of the four finalists in the NFL and with a star quarterback still on his rookie deal, the Pats can pick and choose which players they want to keep and which areas of the roster they want to address.
And despite a receiver room that was far more functional than most anyone predicted, there is no doubt that the Patriots could use a splashy young addition to fill the WR1 role going forward.
Patriots Trade for … George Pickens?
Now, it is fair to question whether the Patriots would make that a priority, with a number of their own free agents to keep and the need for a top-level pass-rusher probably a more serious need that a new WR1. But there is a potential free-agent receiver coming off a breakout year who might prove to be too costly for his current team: George Pickens of the Cowboys.
USA Today site Cowboys Wire wrote this week that New England would make an ideal trade partner for the Cowboys on Pickens, who could be a tag-and-trade player for Dallas this spring. Here’s the deal they came up with:
- Patriots get: George Pickens, fourth-round pick
- Cowboys get: first-round pick (No. 30) and second-round pick (No. 62)
At the site, Cowboys writer KD Drummond notes, “The interesting thing here is New England has a WR1 in Stefon Diggs, but he’s facing an offseason of legal trouble and the team can easily release him from the final two years of his contract without much damage to their cap situation. Drake Maye is likely to win the MVP this season, so it would seem going to a top AFC team with a young star QB would be to Pickens’ liking.”
GettyStefon Diggs of the New England Patriots
George Pickens Was Outstanding in 2025
Pickens was, undoubtedly, one of the surprise stories of the 2025 season, going for 93 catches, 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Pickens was eighth in the NFL in reception and third in receiving yards. The Patriots could use a top playmaker like that.
But remember, despite how far they’ve gone, the Patriots have always acted like a team that sees itself in Year 1 of a rebuild, and at November’s trade deadline, they did not budge to bolster the roster–they were protecting their picks all the way.
The Patriots did wonders with the team last offseason, addressing key areas in the draft and in free agency. But depth is still an issue here, and the Patriots pretty much cleaned house on recent draft picks. The team wants to build out its roster going forward with cost-controlled young players.
Patriots Need Those 2 Picks
In that context, it’s hard to imagine the Patriots giving up a first and second-round pick, then needing to give Pickens the four-year, $122 million contract that Spotrac projects.
Why give up two top picks for the right to pay Pickens a top-of-the-market deal? And there’s yet to be any indication that Diggs’ legal trouble will keep him from the field in 2026.
It’d be nice to have Pickens, for sure, and a receiver upgrade is a good bet for the offseason. But it is hard to see the Patriots coughing up their first two 2026 picks to get him.
Patriots Trade Pitch Would Add $122 Million Breakout Playmaker