The entire NFL convenes on Indianapolis next week for the annual scouting combine, which serves as many things, none more important than a testing ground for draft eligible prospects.
But it’s also a chance for league executives to meet face to face, which makes it a natural spot for trade talks to begin.
In that vein, we wanted to look at potential New England Patriots trades. We came up with seven possible offers (many involving a wide receiver amid reports that the Bengals will likely use the franchise tag on pending free agent Tee Higgins if they can’t reach a long-term deal), then reached out to a writer who covers that team to get a sense of who might say no to each trade. Here’s how it shook out:
WR Garrett Wilson for QB Joe Milton III and the Patriots’ 2026 first-round pick
Who says no: The Jets
Jets writer Zack Rosenblatt: This is a highly tempting offer — it will take a lot for us to move off of Wilson, the only sure-thing offensive star the Jets have at the moment. Milton is an intriguing quarterback prospect and has the tools to be something special with some development, though he’s far from a guarantee so it’d be hard for us to accept this return without getting a more immediate draft compensation return. We’d want a first-round pick this year — understandably hard to justify on your end — or at least a high draft pick (maybe a second) in addition to a high future pick. We won’t just give up on Wilson, and you have to pay the “we hate the Patriots” tax anyway.
Graff: I totally get why the Jets say no here, but it’s a fun one to consider. And honestly from the Patriots’ perspective, a bit scary since it’s in division. What if Milton actually became a stud for the Jets? The odds are unlikely but that’s a trade that has the potential to look bad if Milton becomes the franchise QB for a rival. Still, I’d make this offer if I were the Patriots and hope for the best.
WR DK Metcalf for the Patriots’ second-round pick (No. 38 overall)
Who says no: The Seahawks
From Seahawks writer Michael-Shawn Dugar: This is an intriguing offer for Seattle, which loves Metcalf but has also shown a willingness to part with premiere talents in exchange for cap relief and draft capital. Seattle shipped defensive end Frank Clark (before his age-26 season) to Kansas City for pick No. 29 (and more) in 2019 when he was deemed too expensive to retain. But Seattle likely learned a valuable lesson from that situation: it’s hard to be a contender when you’re subtracting blue-chip talent. The 2025 Seahawks want to contend. So, Seattle will decline this offer.
Graff: This is a bummer because Metcalf would be a nice complement to what the Patriots already have at receiver and could open up the downfield passing game for Drake Maye – and it’s another sign of just how difficult it is to land premier wide receivers.
WR Cooper Kupp for the Patriots’ fifth-round pick
Who says no: No one
Rams writer Jourdan Rodrigue: The Rams want to move on from Kupp and they don’t want to cut him. They believe they could get better than a fifth-round pick for Kupp, but working with him to send him somewhere he’d actually want to play is a factor here and the Patriots could turn things around quickly under Mike Vrabel and his staff in 2025.
Graff: Kupp’s prime is behind him and his contract isn’t great ($29.78 million cap hit in 2025). But the Patriots have tons of cap space and need to make a move at wide receiver. So this makes sense to me even if Kupp is only a No. 2 receiver at this point in his career. Plus, if nothing else, he’d be a good mentor in the team’s receiver room, which needs a shake-up.
WR Deebo Samuel for the Patriots’ fifth-round pick
Who says no: The Patriots
49ers writer Matt Barrows: If I’m the 49ers, I say yes to this proposal for the following reasons: 1.) We may have to cut Samuel anyway, 2.) We don’t have a fifth-round pick. 3.) We excel in the fifth round (See: George Kittle, Dre Greenlaw, etc.) 4.) We’d be trading him out of the conference. Most of all, it’s clear Samuel doesn’t want to be in San Francisco anymore. The hiccup may come from Samuel. Does he want to go to a rebuilding team? The Patriots wouldn’t trade for him if he doesn’t want to be in New England.
Graff: The Patriots badly need a wide receiver, but I’m not sold on Samuel as the answer at 29, with only a year left on his contract, and after totaling 806 yards of offense last year, the fewest he’s had in a season where he played at least 15 games. So in this case, I’d turn down the offer and try to land one of these other receivers.
Deebo Samuel’s 51 receptions in 2024 were his lowest ever in a season where he played at least 13 games. (Sergio Estrada/Imagn Images)
DE Myles Garrett for the Patriots’ 2025 second-round pick (No. 38) and 2026 first-round pick
Who says no: The Browns
Browns writer Zac Jackson: I just don’t think that’s enough. I believe any New England offer would be different than an offer from, say, Detroit or Buffalo because any 2025 (and potentially ‘26) pick would be earlier in a given round, but I think the Browns would need more to actually move Garrett — and I think they’re positioned to get more.
Graff: I figured this offer wouldn’t be enough, and it’s probably for the best. Garrett should go to a team amid their Super Bowl window. While it would be fun to watch him on the Patriots, they’re not in a position to give up any more than what’s in this offer.
WR Chris Olave for Patriots’ second-round pick (No. 38) and fourth-round pick
Who says no: The Saints (barely)
New Orleans writer Larry Holder: This deal is quite close to the one between the Saints and Patriots in 2017 involving Brandin Cooks. The Patriots sent a first-(No. 32) and third-round pick to the Saints for Cooks and a fourth-round selection. This offer isn’t as strong, though, and the Saints don’t have a viable top WR option if they deal Olave like they did with Michael Thomas after dealing Cooks.
Graff: It’s hard to sweeten this offer much more. Is adding a third-round pick next year too much? Probably, so I think the Pats would hold off here.
DL Jeffery Simmons for the Patriots’ 2026 second-round pick and 2025 fourth-round pick
Who says no: The Titans (kind of)
Titans writer Joe Rexrode: I’m going to decline that trade but come right back with a counter: Make this year’s fourth, a third rounder instead, and we have a deal. (And that means pick No. 69, not No. 77 that was acquired from Atlanta.) The Titans don’t have a pick in the third round and need to get back in there. As for Simmons, he still has good football left in him, but he has diminished some and hasn’t reacted well to all the losing. There isn’t a better opportunity for rejuvenation possible than playing for Vrabel and Terrell Williams again.
Graff: That’s a lot to give up for Simmons, but I think I’d be inclined as long as the second-round pick remained from 2026 and not this year. Simmons is still just 27 (he’ll turn 28 early in training camp) and while he only recorded five sacks last season, he was still Pro Football Focus’ 10th-best defensive lineman.
