The Patriots have already made one big swing at wide receiver, but the move for A.J. Brown still hasn’t given them the kind of impact they were hoping for. Brown has been banged up, and when he has been on the field, he hasn’t been much of a factor.
That leaves New England in a familiar spot: patient with a talented player, but still open to anything that could strengthen a thin receiver room. And if the right name becomes available, the Patriots ought to be ready.
George Pickens is the one to watch.
Dallas is sitting at 3-5, and another stumble could push the Cowboys toward a tougher conversation about Pickens’ future. They head to Indianapolis in Week 9 to face the ailing Colts, a game they should win on paper. But that was the feeling last week too, before they lost at home to Gardner Minshew II and the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cowboys’ defense has been rough again, and teams have started to catch up to an offense that once looked explosive. With an expensive roster and Pickens playing on the franchise tag, Dallas may not be in position to hand him the long-term deal he wants.
Pickens himself has done his part. He has 39 catches on 62 targets for 533 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers don’t jump off the page the way his breakout season last year did, but the Cowboys have leaned on CeeDee Lamb as their top option and given Ryan Flournoy a bigger role.
There’s also the matter of what Pickens brings off the field. He came to Arlington with a reputation, but he has stayed out of trouble and has said and done all the right things since leaving Pittsburgh.
If Dallas drops to 3-6, he could be available for a mid-round pick, and at 25, he would be a worthwhile bet as a long-term answer. He’s also dealing with a hamstring injury, which means he might not even play in Indianapolis. Or maybe Dallas is simply being cautious, knowing it can’t or shouldn’t commit market-level money to him at season’s end.
For a Patriots receiver group that still needs help, a lineup featuring Brown, Pickens, Doubs, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, and Mack Hollins would suddenly look a lot more dangerous.
In Other News...
Patriots Offense Faces One Huge Test Against Green Bay
The Patriots are getting ready for a heavyweight November test against Green Bay, with both teams sitting at 5-3 and both defenses carrying enough punch to make this one feel like a grind. New Englands offense has been trying to find its footing through injuries, and the latest concern is Hunter Henry, who has not practiced recently as the team works through another health issue at a position that matters plenty in a matchup like this.
Green Bay is dealing with its own absences, including Jayden Reed, Edgerrin Cooper and Micah Parsons, but that does not change the shape of the challenge for the Patriots. This projects as a low-scoring game where every possession matters, and for New England the real question is whether the offense can do enough against a tough Packers defense to keep pace in a game that may not leave much margin for error. [Read more 🡒]
Gronkowskis Patriots Hall Of Fame Night Hit Fans Right In The Feels
Rob Gronkowskis Patriots Hall of Fame night was built around the kind of career that made him one of the most recognizable players of his era, with the ceremony serving as a reminder of how much he meant to New England over nine seasons. The gathering drew plenty of familiar faces, and the evening centered on celebrating what he accomplished in Foxborough and the impact he had beyond the box score.
Gronkowski also used the moment to reflect on what it meant to be part of the Patriots, leaning into themes of loyalty, sacrifice and putting the team ahead of himself. For a fan base that watched him become a franchise staple, the night landed as more than a formal honor, it felt like a proper closing chapter to a career that was always about being part of something larger. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Face A Trade Deadline Choice That Could Hurt A Playoff Push
With the trade deadline approaching, the Patriots are suddenly staring at a decision that could say as much about their short-term ambitions as their long-term roster plan. Sports Illustrateds Albert Breer pointed to Christian Barmore and Carlton Davis as possible names to watch, which is the sort of speculation that tends to follow any team trying to balance immediate competitiveness with a bigger-picture reset.
Mike Vrabel has tried to keep the focus where it belongs, on the next stretch of games and the usual week-to-week work that comes with an NFL season. Still, the idea of moving either Barmore or Davis would not be a small one for a team trying to stay in the playoff mix, because it would force New England to weigh present-day depth against whatever it might gain by dealing from a position of strength. [Read more 🡒]