NFL trade deadline: Patriots rumored to still be in the market for a receiver

The New England Patriots have already been quite busy with the NFL’s 2019 trade deadline approaching on the horizon. Last Tuesday, the team acquired veteran wide receiver Mohamed Sanu from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2020 draft. Just two days later, the reigning world champions sent defensive lineman Michael Bennett to the Dallas Cowboys for a conditional seventh-round selection in 2021.

The Patriots staying put when the deadlines comes on Tuesday would therefore not be a surprise, considering that moves have already been made and the financial resources are limited. However, there are at least rumors out there that the team might look to make another trade — and it appears as if the receiver position is once again being targeted: according to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, the Patriots are “still in the market for a receiver.”

As things currently stand, the Patriots have Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett II and Sanu as their top-three wideouts with rookies Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski as depth options behind them. The unit could also soon see reinforcements in the form of first-round draft pick N’Keal Harry: the 32nd overall pick in this year’s draft is eligible to be activated from injured reserve this week, and could play his first NFL regular season game on Sunday.

New England does certainly have depth and upside at the position, but if Glazer is to be believed the club is still looking to improve. How this process could play out is anybody’s guess at this point, but unless a player-for-player trade is made, or one that only slightly alters the team’s $2.8 million in salary cap space, it seems unlikely that the Patriots will make another move before 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

With that in mind, nothing is ever really out of the realm of possibility in Foxborough.