The Patriots are in desperate need of a dynamic, No. 1 wide receiver to pair with Drake Maye in 2025 and beyond.

Tee Higgins has been a familiar name tossed out in rumors involving the Patriots — who have not boasted a wideout with over 1,000 receiving yards in a single season since Julian Edelman in 2019. 

But if a pending free agent like Higgins either stays in Cincinnati or signs elsewhere, could New England pivot and acquire another star receiver via trade?

One NFL executive thinks so, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. 

As part of Fowler’s annual survey of NFL execs and personnel staff, one “veteran NFC personnel man” told Fowler that he thinks New England will trade for disgruntled Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill this offseason.

“The Patriots are desperate. They need a guy, that alpha that can be friendly for Drake Maye‚” the staffer told Fowler. “And there’s a higher chance of the draft picks (Miami would receive in a trade) being higher than with a contender.”

Fowler did note that such a move from Eliot Wolf and New England’s front office likely would only be an option if the team “can’t satisfy that need via the Bengals’ Tee Higgins or another free agent.”

Fowler speculated that Hill could potentially be plucked out of Miami for “a package including a Day 2 pick”, especially after the 30-year-old posted his first sub-1,000-yard season since 2019 this past year.

Despite Hill’s standing as one of the top wideouts in the NFL over the last decade, his future in Miami remains uncertain — especially given his comments after the Dolphins fell short of a playoff berth in 2024. 

“This is my first time I haven’t been in the playoffs,” Hill told reporters earlier this month. “I just gotta do what’s best for me and my family. If that’s here or wherever the case may be, I’m finna open that door for myself. I’m opening the door. I’m out, bro.

“It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, bro, I got to do what’s best for my career. I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there.”

Even if the 2024 season was a down year for Hill, he still would have easily paced any Patriots wideout this past year in receptions (81) and receiving yards (959). 

From 2020-23, Hill averaged 109 catches, 1,506 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns per season between the Chiefs and Dolphins. 

Still, Hill’s age and his hefty contract ($80.4 million owed over the last two season) might raise concerns over whether or not he’d be the ideal addition to a Patriots roster short on high-end talent.

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.