Terry McLaurin in a New England Patriots uniform would be gold for a young quarterback like Drake Maye. But just imagine if he began his NFL career catching the ball from the great Tom Brady.
Selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders, McLaurin has established himself as a top 100 player in the league. That is despite playing with a myriad of quarterbacks through his first six seasons in the NFL.
Ironically, now that the team appears to have their franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels, McLaurin’s trade request due to a contract dispute could give a team like the Patriots a chance to correct a colossal draft mistake.
In our time travel back into NFL Draft history, the Patriots’ top need entering that 2019 NFL Draft was at wide receiver. The team selected N’Keal Harry with the No. 32 overall pick in that draft. In what seemed like a solid pick at the time turned out to be one of the biggest draft busts in team history, especially considering the success of receivers selected after him.
Patriots not only missed out on Terry McLaurin in the 2019 NFL Draft
Along with McLaurin, that list includes Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, Hunter Renfrow, Diontae Johnson and Darius Slayton. Any of those players would’ve been solid in the Patriots’ offense, especially McLaurin who didn’t even require a first or a second-round pick in that draft.
With the Pro Bowl receiver potentially available for trade, should the Patriots go out and get their young quarterback a reliable playmaker who would instantly make the offense a more viable one in the AFC? Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about the possibility and while he didn’t rule it out, kept focus on what he is trying to build with the players he currently has.
“I’m not going to comment on players that are under contract on other teams. Let’s focus on the ones that are here, that we’re working with,” Vrabel said, via Boston.com. “I mean, we see all these things happen in the National Football League, whether it’s the offseason, whether it’s before the season starts. So, everybody’s working with different situations, so those respective players and respective teams will focus on their situations, and we’ll focus on ours.”
McLaurin would add consistency to Patriots’ offense
While Vrabel is not responsible for who the team drafted years ago, adding McLaurin could at least make up for that Harry blunder in that 2019 draft. In McLaurin, the Patriots will get a big-play receiver who has been consistent in his NFL career. With five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, he is a player who not only helps move the chains but gives Maye a savvy veteran who can make big plays down the field.
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What would Vrabel and the Patriots have to give up to acquire McLaurin?
It should take a second-round pick given McLaurin’s age (will turn 30 in September). The Patriots could sweeten the deal by throwing in a player like Kendrick Bourne or 2024 NFL Draft second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk, who may benefit from a change in scenery. Such a deal would make the Patriots group of playmakers surrounding Maye look that much more intriguing when you consider a group that includes McLaurin, Stephon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, 2025 NFL Draft third round pick Kyle Williams and tight end Hunter Henry.
As for McLaurin, who would love to cash in with his current team, the move gives him a chance to earn that big bag as the Patriots are one of the few teams with the cap space to give him a long-term deal and it will give him an opportunity to help a quarterback like Maye grow as he did with Danials in 2024.