The New England Patriots had arguably the best receiving corps in the NFL on paper a couple of weeks before the start of the 2026 season.
But then they decided to trade Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans, and A.J. Brown suffered a high ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Literally, a snap of a finger and the Patriots might once again be looking for help at a position that was once considered the strongest on their roster.
In Sunday's win over the Buffalo Bills, they also lost veteran wide receiver Mack Hollins to a calf injury. Brown and Hollins potentially missing time means Patriots quarterback Drake Maye could be without both of his favorite downfield targets.
When asked about the possibility of adding outside help, Patriots
coach Mike Vrabel seemed open to the idea on Monday.
"Sure. Anybody that can help us," Vrabel said, via Patriots Wire's Sophie Weller. "We'll go explore here shortly."
Here are five wide receiver options the Patriots could consider signing or trading for in the coming days:
Tyreek Hill
Yes, Tyreek Hill is 32 years old and coming off a devastating knee injury. There's a real possibility that the explosive element of his game that once made him one of the most feared receivers in the NFL is gone. But what if there's a little more left in the tank? Getting a player with Hill's otherworldly abilities for a potential discount is worth rolling the dice over.
Stefon Diggs
The Washington Commanders are currently dead last in the NFC East division with a pivotal matchup against the New York Giants this week. If quarterback Jayden Daniels returns and the Commanders still lose, they might have to start making some tough decisions about their football team. If there was a way for the Patriots to reunite with Diggs for a late-round draft pick, it would be a worthy option to explore.
Diggs was one of Maye's most trusted targets last season, and the leadership he brought to the team on the field and in the locker room was unrivaled.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Marvin Harrison Jr. hasn't turned into the generational talent most expected he would be at the NFL level. Maybe he really is a good third option at best, or maybe there's some bits of talent that still remains untapped within him. If he's on the block for cheap, the Patriots would be crazy to not at least find out. This could be the kind of move that pays off in a major way long-term.
Brian Thomas Jr.
Like Harrison, Brian Thomas Jr. is another talented receiver with untapped potential. The biggest difference is the fact that we've actually seen Thomas perform at an elite level in the NFL. As a rookie, Thomas had 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, his numbers dropped off a cliff to 48 catches for 707 yards and two touchdowns last season.
Was it all an anomaly? It might be worth it for the Patriots to find out.
Kayshon Boutte
The Patriots traded Kayshon Boutte before the season to the Houston Texans in a move that frustrated a lot of fans. Boutte was one of Maye's favorite deep ball threats, and his mere presence on the roster served as A.J. Brown insurance.
With the Texans currently sitting at 0-4, one has to wonder if they would be open to a retrade with the Patriots. So far, Boutte has nine catches for 115 yards and zero touchdowns.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 5 wide receivers Patriots could still sign or trade for midseason
