The NFL trade deadline is looming. With the final five-day countdown underway, player-seeking teams, including the New England Patriots, can complete trades by Tuesday, November 4, at 4:00 p.m. ET. With this date approaching, there have been ample rumors and speculation surrounding certain players who could be dealt.
Here, we’re examining one possibility in which the Patriots would acquire a wide receiver to make life easier for starting quarterback Drake Maye.
New England Patriots Pegged As Potential Landing Spot For Another Vikings WR
The Patriots’ WR1 currently is Stefon Diggs, a player drafted and developed by the Minnesota Vikings. Now, PFSN’s Ayden Stroupe has them as the No. 1 landing spot for incumbent Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison, a player who’s recorded 22 touchdowns (21 receiving; 1 rushing) over his three-year career.
“Addison would immediately slide in as the WR1 for New England. Despite competing for targets with Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson in a less efficient Minnesota offense, Addison already has more than 300 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging nearly 20 more yards per game than Diggs or Boutte,” Stroupe said.
Since returning from a three-game suspension, Addison boasts a team target share of 20.5%, seeing 30 targets and catching 21 passes since. The only player with a larger target share over that stretch is Jefferson at 29.5%.
“If Addison became the primary weapon in Maye’s offense, he would go nuclear. His burst, separation, and YAC ability fit perfectly with Maye’s aggressive, on-schedule play style,” Stroupe pointed. He then finished with a very insightful observation: A long-term player who can develop alongside a young quarterback.
“Adding a 23-year-old star who can develop alongside the franchise quarterback for years would allow New England to leap from a playoff contender to a Super Bowl contender. If a second-round pick is the asking price, the Patriots should close the deal and not think twice,” Stroupe added.
Addison would certainly be a massive weapon for the Patriots, but I’m skeptical he’s available in a trade. He has 2.5 years left on his rookie deal, and he’s been perhaps the best pick made by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Interestingly enough, wide receiver Jalen Nailor could be a potential trade candidate as he’s on the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
With all that being said, the Vikings are 3-4 and could very well fall to 3-5 this week as they’re on the road against the Detroit Lions, a team that ranks sixth in PFSN’s Offense Impact score at 84.1.
We’ll see if the Vikings make any moves, be it Addison, Nailor, or someone else at the trade deadline.
