After putting up 51 points to the Chicago Bears, the New England Patriots offense is looking pretty good after Week 8 of the season. That was certainly a far cry from what the unit started out as after a slow start to the new year. Tom Brady has done an excellent job of silencing the critics, but will it be enough to take the Patriots far in the postseason? Some analysts believe the Patriots would be well off to make a trade for another offensive weapon before the NFL deadline approaches and the team has plenty of options.
The Patriots do not necessarily need to make a trade before the deadline, but right now their offensive production is coming from the same few players and if injuries occur, they might be lacking for talent. Brady has already criticized the unit once saying New England lacked the talent on offense to be a high-scoring unit. Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski and Brandon LaFell are certainly doing their part in the effort, but Danny Amendola and Aaron Dobson continue to be dead weight. If they cannot be trusted, the Patriots need to make a trade.
According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Buccaneers are weighing the offers for wide receiver Vincent Jackson and the Patriots could be at the front of the pack for the veteran. Jackson continues to be the best offensive performer for Tampa Bay, but the team's losing record means making a trade might be the better option for long-term rebuilding. Lovie Smith has denied the idea that Jackson is available, but for a losing team, any player is available at the right price.
The Patriots have been linked to several wide receivers potentially on the market, but Jackson would be the most affordable. While his salary is not ideal to take on, he would not cost New England much in return. They likely could get away with a late draft pick for the receiver. Jackson is a much more reliable target than Amendola or Dobson moving forward and could be key for Brady.
New England has been linked to deals for Mike Williams, Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson and even Wes Welker. None of those are likely to happen at this point in the year. Jackson would make the most sense for the Patriots if they felt a move was necessary.