According to Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports, the New England Patriots could make a big splash by trading down in the draft to select All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
The concept was brought up by Cowherd during a February 5 Super Bowl radio row interview with NBC Sports Boston. The NBC Sports Boston’s Michael Felger stated that the Patriots ought to acquire the star wide receiver from the Minnesota Vikings.
“People around the league are keeping an eye on” the Vikings to trade up from No. 11 to acquire a quarterback early, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. With the Patriots holding the third pick in the draft, that’s where Jefferson enters the picture.
Kirk Cousins, the quarterback for Minnesota, may be leaving in free agency, and quarterbacks will probably take the first three picks in the draft. With the quarterback position uncertain for a team that missed the playoffs the previous year, Jefferson becomes a more attractive trade target if Cousins leaves the Vikings.
Three All-Pro selections (two second team), three Pro Bowls, and four seasons with 1,000 yards, including his injury-plagued 2023 campaign, have been accumulated by Jefferson in just four seasons. Given that Jefferson turns 25 before the 2024 season, he probably has a lot more ahead of him.
Pay Justin Jefferson; you’ve got about four to five years of prime runway together, Felger said. “If given the choice, I would much rather do this than put all of my chips in the middle of the table for someone like Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, or some other child. What do you have surrounding him after that?
A quarterback in free agency or a later draft pick could be available to New England. In 2023, the Patriots’ receiving group was lacking, but Jefferson would drastically improve the passing game.
With 49 receptions for 561 yards, rookie Demario Douglas demonstrated the greatest promise for the Patriots. The team only had 16 passing touchdowns in the previous season, and no other receiver had more than 45 receptions and 400 yards.
In 60 games over the course of four seasons, Jefferson has 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns. Over a 17-game season, he averages 111 receptions, 1,671 yards, and eight touchdowns.
“The money is the biggest issue in the whole thing,” according to Felger. According to Spotrac, Jefferson has a $19.74 million fifth-year option with the Vikings this year. In 2025, he could command a 4-year, $117.3 million contract, or $29.3 million annually.
It is not acceptable for me to stand here and claim that the Pats won’t pay him, so they won’t do that. Felger remarked, “I just want to act like they’re a regular football team.”
This year, New England’s salary cap space is $67.4 million. Although head coach Jerod Mayo stated that the team will “burn cash” in the offseason, the Patriots’ roster is riddled with problems.
In addition to many other positions, the Patriots need help at offensive tackle and quarterback. In 2023, New England’s offense collapsed to 295.2 yards per game and 13.9 points.
Paradoxically, should the Patriots acquire Jefferson, they may also be able to entice Cousins if the draft trade occurs early enough. One of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the free agent class will be a cousin.
However, in order to have Cousins, New England would have to defy its historical spending patterns. According to Spotrac, he will fetch about $39.3 million a year or a $118.14 million contract over three years.
The Patriots would acquire one of the NFL’s most potent quarterback-receiver tandems if it occurred.
For Heavy.com, Matthew Davis writes about the NFL with an emphasis on the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has also covered Minnesota prep sports since 2016 as a contributing writer for the StarTribune. Additional information about Matthew Davis
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