Drake Maye made an impressive debut in his first career start for the New England Patriots in Week 6, showcasing why he was selected with the No. 3 pick. He completed 20 of 33 passes for 243 yards, threw three touchdowns, and had two interceptions. Although the offense showed signs of improvement with Maye compared to Jacoby Brissett’s previous starts, it still needed more firepower in a 41-21 loss to the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium.
Before the season, there were concerns about the Patriots’ offensive line and wide receiver group. With Maye now the permanent starter, the team might look to make aggressive moves before the trade deadline to bolster the offense around their rookie quarterback from North Carolina.
One unconventional approach for the Patriots to strengthen their offense could be trading for a veteran quarterback. Although it may seem counterintuitive, the Cleveland Browns’ situation with Deshaun Watson presents a unique opportunity.
Watson, who signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022, has struggled to elevate the Browns’ offense, which remains one of the league’s worst despite his presence.
According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, an NFL executive suggested that the Patriots or the Carolina Panthers might consider trading for Watson, taking on the $92 million he is owed over the next two years, in exchange for valuable draft picks.
“The conversation starts with multiple first-round picks,” the executive told Sando, noting that the price could be lower if the Browns were willing to cover part of Watson’s salary.
Although Watson wouldn’t actually play for the Patriots, acquiring him could help the franchise reshape its future by leveraging the draft picks they receive to bring in star players or to draft key positions like offensive linemen and wide receivers to support Maye. The drawback, however, is that Watson’s substantial salary would consume a significant portion of the Patriots’ cap space.
Still, with the affordability of rookie contracts, the Patriots could feasibly absorb a large contract in exchange for acquiring several talented starters to rebuild the team around their young quarterback.
