The New England Patriots are in year two of the Drake Maye era and are off to a 1-1 start to begin the season. Maye has looked solid in the first two weeks, but the surrounding weapons are lackluster to say the least.
While there isn’t a major solution the Patriots can make in-season, they could look to add another receiver, and they were recently predicted to do just that in a projected trade for a wideout with 27 career touchdowns.
Could a Veteran Wideout Be on the Way to Aid Drake Maye in New England?
Maye’s rookie year in New England was solid. After being taken No. 3 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Patriots, he started 12 games last season, throwing for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and ten interceptions while adding 421 yards and two scores on the ground.
He looks more comfortable and improved this season. He was nearly perfect in the Patriots’ week two game against the Dolphins, completing 19 of 23 attempts for 230 yards and recording three total touchdowns.
While Maye has looked good, New England’s weapons aren’t great. The team has an aging Stefon Diggs and a group of young, unproven wideouts alongside him, like Kayshon Boutte and DeMario (Pop) Douglas.
Imagine getting this clean of a look at a QB and he dusts you for 6 😭
Drake Maye is a problem. pic.twitter.com/QGQyNLLDDs
— Brycen 🏆 (@Brycen2047) September 15, 2025
It’s not the league’s worst group, but the Patriots could use another proven receiver. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox seems to share that view, as he recently predicted New England would trade for Allen Lazard from the New York Jets.
While Lazard is by no means a superstar, he has been a reliable target throughout his career. He has caught 229 passes for 3,077 yards and 27 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons.
1️⃣3️⃣-yard TD for No. 1️⃣3️⃣
TOUCHDOWN @AllenLazard 🙌 #DETvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/opb5uCqreW
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 9, 2023
As Knox notes, the Jets haven’t used Lazard much this season. He was a healthy scratch in Week One. While active in week two, he didn’t record a single catch in New York’s game against the Buffalo Bills.
That makes him an expendable piece for the Jets, who would likely be happy to move his $44 million contract, and a cheap acquisition for the Patriots, as he would likely only cost a late-day three-pick pick.
New England is in the market for a receiver like Lazard, who has made his career as a player who can make catches downfield. He’s averaged 13.4 yards per catch throughout his career and could add an element to the Patriots’ receiver room that isn’t currently there.
This would not be a blockbuster move, and it’s a trade within the division, which doesn’t happen often. Still, it’s a deal that makes sense for both sides. It could make a difference mid-season and give Maye a reliable target as he continues his second year in the league.
