The New England Patriots have been unable to add a top wide receiver to a corps that desperately needs one heading into 2019, but that may not be due to a lack of effort on their part.
Michael Giardi of NFL Network reported on Wednesday that the Patriots have at least inquired about almost every available top wide receiver both on the trade and free agent markets this offseason. That includes Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Brown.
According to a league source, the #Patriots inquired about just about every available wide receiver – and some not available – over the last month, from Antonio Brown to Odell to the assortment of free agents they've missed on.
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) March 27, 2019
Earlier this week, Brown sent the “Boomin Experience” podcast some audio of a phone call between him and agent Drew Rosenhaus before he was traded to the Oakland Raiders. Rosenhaus said he told Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert to contact Bill Belichick, but he got the sense that Pittsburgh was not willing to trade the star wideout to the Patriots. Rosenhaus told Brown the Pats were among “the teams that want you right now.”
A previous report also said the Patriots were the most aggressive team in pursuing Beckham last offseason, though that may have been before he signed his massive extension with the New York Giants. We’ve also heard some rumblings that the Patriots kicked the tires on other well-known veteran receivers.
With Rob Gronkowski having retired, Julian Edelman is basically the only reliable target Tom Brady has to throw to at the moment. That could change with the draft coming up, but it’s no secret the Patriots need to add at least another pass catcher, especially with Josh Gordon facing an uncertain future.
