The New England Patriots have hit their stride after a very slow start to the season, but the team is still making upgrades before the mid-season trade deadline. More than before, the Patriots have been working the trade market, dealing Logan Mankins and now acquiring Akeem Ayers from the Tennessee Titans. Could one more move be coming for the Patriots before Oct. 31 in the form of a wide receiver?
The Patriots have not been as critical of their offense in the past few games as they were in the past four, but there is certainly still room for improvement. Tom Brady was quoted saying that he did not believe the Patriots had the talent on the roster to be a high-flying unit. The Patriots are winning games right now, but do they have the offense to compete with the likes of the Seattle Seahawks or Denver Broncos? A trade could help.
The Patriots are not reportedly seeking anyone out or shopping any of their players like the under-achieving Danny Amendola or Aaron Dobson. They already sent Kenbrell Thompkins packing which does open up a spot for someone else. The Boston Herald immediately linked the Patriots to a deal for Larry Fitzgerald at the deadline. The Arizona Cardinals veteran is in the final year of his contract and predicted to head elsewhere in search of one more Super Bowl opportunity before he finishes out his career. The Cardinals are not actively shopping him, but would listen to offers if they come in. The Patriots could easily pick him up for a late-season push.
Right now, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski are the two consistent threats for New England. Brandon LaFell is starting to come along well, but after that there are some uncertainties. Getting Fitzgerald is an instant upgrade for the offense. The chances of the Patriots making a marquee deal like this is very slim. Fitzgerald might require giving up too much, but there are cheaper options available.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shopping Vincent Jackson before the deadline. The team's season is looking ugly and getting something nice in return for Jackson would be a solid way to start rebuilding despite him being one of their best offensive players. The Buffalo Bills are also listening to deals for wide receiver Mike Williams who might just be worth a late or conditional draft pick. If the Patriots feel like they need one more playmaker for the second half of the year, they have plenty of choices.