The Patriots have already made some significant moves to get Drake Maye more weapons this offseason.
In free agency, New England signed veteran receivers Stefon Diggs, owner of six previous 1,000-yard seasons, along with Mack Hollins, who had five touchdown receptions for Buffalo in 2024. In April’s NFL Draft, the Patriots also used their second- and third-round selections on offensive pieces; running back TreVeyon Henderson joins Rhamondre Stevenson in a talented backfield, while Washington State product Kyle Williams will be a nice receiver to develop in the long-term.
Despite all those moves, could the Patriots’ offense be in for one more addition?
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Commanders star wide receiver Terry McLaurin requested a trade during training camp, seeking a new extension that Washington has failed to provide him thus far. Whether the Commanders will actually trade McLaurin, rather than come to terms on a new deal, remains to be seen. But there are limited suitors for the veteran star if Washington fulfills his trade request, and New England could easily be one of them.
A potential McLaurin-Diggs duo could make the Patriots legitimate AFC playoff contenders in 2025, providing Maye with two well-known weapons that are two of the most consistently excellent receivers in the league. Acquiring McLaurin wouldn’t break the Patriots’ bank either, as they own the most cap space in the NFL, and he could be another mentor for Williams. But what would it cost for New England to actually land McLaurin?
Here’s a breakdown of potential Patriots trade packages that could entice Washington for McLaurin, if the Commanders choose to trade him.
MORE: Why Terry McLaurin is requesting a trade from the Commanders
Terry McLaurin to Patriots potential trade packages
Here are a few trade ideas between the Commanders and Patriots involving McLaurin.
Trade Package 1:
- Patriots receive: WR Terry McLaurin
- Commanders receive: 2026 second-round pick
Most often, NFL trades involving star players sent the other team draft capital, rather than actual players. While the Commanders are a team that’s realistically aiming for a playoff spot right now, if they trade McLaurin, they may just be looking to clear up some cap room by adding a draft pick or two, especially considering their title window should be open for a while with a 24-year-old Jayden Daniels.
That being said, a second-round pick would appear to be strong value straight-up for McLaurin. Here are the draft picks that were sent in exchange for a few other star receivers in recent years:
- D.K. Metcalf (traded from Seahawks to Steelers, March 2025): 2025 second-round pick, late-round pick swap
- Deebo Samuel (traded from 49ers to Commanders, March 2025): 2025 fifth-round pick
- DeAndre Hopkins (traded from Titans to Chiefs, October 2024): Conditional 2025 fifth-round pick
- Davante Adams (traded from Raiders to Jets, October 2024): Conditional 2025 third-round pick
- Jerry Jeudy (traded from Broncos to Browns, March 2024): 2024 fifth-round pick, 2024 sixth-round pick
Those trades set the current precedent for the value of a top wide receiver on the trade market. Among those five names, McLaurin’s value, assuming his new team signs him to an extension, is likely more comparable to Metcalf or Adams, rather than Samuel or Hopkins. So, the Commanders would likely be eyeing a second- or third-round pick for McLaurin.
Because New England is one of the few teams capable of signing McLaurin to a hefty extension right now though, they hypothetically may not have to bid too high for the star receiver’s services. A second-rounder in 2026, or maybe a conditional third-rounder that could become a second-rounder, may be enough if Washington wants to trade McLaurin.
Trade Package 2:
- Patriots receive: WR Terry McLaurin
- Commanders receive: WR DeMario Douglas, 2026 third-round pick
If Washington is going to move McLaurin, its offense would be left without its No. 1 wide receiver. That could mean that the Commanders would eye a receiver in return for McLaurin, even if they aren’t the true No. 1 option that he is.
In this hypothetical deal, the Patriots wouldn’t send as high of draft capital, but they would attach a young wide receiver that has already displayed real talent in the NFL. DeMario Douglas, a 2023 sixth-round pick, has 1,182 receiving yards and three touchdowns between his first two seasons. He’s not McLaurin, but Douglas could boost a Washington WR core that would need help beyond Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown.
Here, the Commanders would be betting on a younger weapon that has already proven himself in the NFL, but also may have another gear to reach when playing in an elite offense alongside Daniels. And still, Washington would get a draft pick in return for McLaurin as well.
It’s unlikely New England would be interested in sending off Diggs, a newly signed veteran who would make a nice pairing with McLaurin, or even Williams, who they just drafted. But perhaps Douglas could draw interest from Washington.
Trade Package 3:
- Patriots receive: WR Terry McLaurin
- Commanders receive: TE Hunter Henry, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, 2026 fourth-round pick
In a similar fashion to the second trade package, the Commanders would likely want pass-catchers in return for McLaurin as they eye the NFC East crown in 2025. Diggs and Williams seem unlikely to be moved from New England, but what about arguably the Patriots’ second- or third-best pass catcher?
Hunter Henry owns six NFL seasons with at least 500 receiving yards, including a career-high 674 in 2024. He’s among the most consistent tight ends in the league on an annual basis, as the 30-year-old provides real value in the passing game each season, dating back to his early years with the Chargers.
Yes, the Commanders already have Zach Ertz, but he’s also 34 years old. Maybe Washington has an interest in rolling out more two-tight-end packages this season, giving Jayden Daniels a pair of big, reliable receiving threats in Ertz and Henry. Not only could Henry be insurance for an older Ertz, but he’s a legitimate red-zone threat and could be a short-range weapon for Daniels.
Add in a young wide receiver in 2024 second-rounder Ja’Lynn Polk, who could perhaps use a change of scenery after a quiet rookie season (15 game appearances, 12 receptions, 87 yards), and Washington would be getting a veteran pass-catcher and another talented pass-catcher to develop.
As for New England, it likely wouldn’t mind parting with Polk and a draft pick if it meant McLaurin was coming back, and the Patriots also have another viable TE1 option in veteran Austin Hooper, who recorded 476 yards and three touchdowns in 2024.
MORE: Terry McLaurin potential landing spots, from Patriots to Raiders
Terry McLaurin contract projection
Whether it’s the Commanders or another team, like the Patriots, McLaurin is going to need a new contract at some point. Maybe Washington gives him the extension he desires, or maybe it takes a trade for a new squad to meet McLaurin’s financial requests. Right now, he’s scheduled for free agency in March 2026.
Like trades, NFL contract discussions usually come down to the precedent that other organizations and players set. McLaurin’s age (31 by the time an extension kicks in), along with his status certainly as a top receiver, but maybe not in the “best of the best” tier, makes it somewhat difficult to project how much money he’ll get on a new deal.
However, a few comparable extensions in recent years include Tyreek Hill’s $30 million AAV over three years with Miami, Mike Evans’ $20.5 million AAV over two years with Tampa Bay, Courtland Sutton’s $23 million AAV over four years with Denver, and D.K. Metcalf’s $33 million AAV over four years with Pittsburgh.
Rumors suggest McLaurin is seeking closer to Metcalf’s $33 million AAV than Evans’ $20.5 million AAV. In reality, his value may come somewhere in the middle. For example, a $29 million AAV would make McLaurin the 10th-highest paid receiver in the NFL, per Over the Cap, trailing some of the younger stars like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Brandon Aiyuk, but still more than less-proven receivers like D.J. Moore or Jaylen Waddle.
A $29 million AAV over three years, a time period that’s probably a safe middle ground for a 31-year-old McLaurin, would equate to $87 million. That’s not quite the massive total contract that Metcalf ($132 million over four years) got, but it’s also enough to give McLaurin a deserved pay increase to rank among the top wideouts while balancing the team’s risk of his age.
MORE: Tracking the latest trade rumors on Terry McLaurin, Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson
Patriots cap space
According to Over the Cap, the Patriots currently have the most cap space in the NFL at $59,850,850.
Hypothetically, New England would financially have room to make an acquisition like McLaurin while extending him to a new deal. The other top-5 teams in cap space, per Over the Cap, are the Lions, 49ers, Cardinals and Raiders.
