The New England Patriots were linked to a trade with the Washington Commanders for former Ohio State Buckeyes football star Terry McLaurin, but the odds are higher that the receiver and his current home will hammer down an extension.
Still, the fit with Drake Maye could have the Pats overly interested in McLaurin, potentially raising the price for a player who "checks every box" for New England.
"There hasn't been much progress because there hasn't been much talk between the sides. And I think that's why Terry [McLaurin] felt compelled to say what he said publicly. I think the Patriots would be very interested in this. There's a price point for all of it, and what would that mean? Obviously, he's not going to come here with an unresolved contract situation, so you'd be talking about a draft pick plus a contract. He's a little older than people realize because he was a five-year college guy. He'll be 30 in September. Certainly, as far as what they're looking for -- from a person, a player, helping Drake Maye, etc. -- this guy checks every box," Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer said, per NBC Sports Boston.
If we're playing the QB connection game, the Patriots are trumped by the New York Jets, which have fellow OSU alum Justin Fields under center.
CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin believes that puts the New York Jets firmly in the trade market for McLaurin, along with the Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders.
"Like the Raiders, the Jets aren't necessarily angling to contend in 2025 as much as successfully transition to a new culture and regime. They have money to spare, however, with close to $30 million in remaining cap space, plus a relatively dire need for pass-catching weapons opposite Garrett Wilson, who's now locked in with a deal of his own. As a bonus, new quarterback Justin Fields shares an Ohio State background with McLaurin, and Jets passing game coordinator Scott Turner was previously McLaurin's play-caller in Washington," Benjamin wrote.
That means half the AFC East wants McLaurin. Surely, the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins do too, but their resources are currently being spent elsewhere.
We'll see who'll have the trade resources to land a player the Commanders don't sound too keen on trading.
New England may be willing to expend more, given how well McLaurin would complement Maye.