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Going into the 2026 season, the Patriots' receiving corps is arguably the most talented it has been since the days Tom Brady was under center, and what year that might be is a debate for another day.
But it's clear that Mike Vrabel and Co. made it a goal to give Drake Maye the caliber of talent a quarterback, especially a young one, needs to succeed in the NFL when they signed Romeo Doubs in free agency and traded for A.J. Brown.
Although they released Stefon Diggs earlier this year, the players brought in to replace his production will be at least as good as what the team had in 2025, if not completely better, and yet there is still room to add even more top-quality players this offseason or next.
Among the most desirable remains George Pickens, who is currently in something of a standoff with the Cowboys, who insist they want to keep him around for the long term yet refuse to give him a rightful extension.
Recent reports suggested a deal was near, noting that Pickens was doing all the right things this offseason to get the negotiations underway. But the latest update claims that's not the case, largely because the deadline to agree on an extension has passed, and the receiver will play on the franchise tag in 2026 rather than sign a new contract.
While that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the Patriots directly, it does give them another shot at bringing in a trusted WR1 next offseason.
The Patriots will have another shot at signing a game-wrecking receiver in 2027
As the top free agent at the position going into the 2026 offseason, there was plenty of chatter linking the Patriots to Pickens this spring. Although it seemed like a long shot, there was some hope among fans that he would be on the Patriots' radar and become the best receiver the team had signed in what felt like decades.
Obviously, that opportunity became null and void the second Dallas decided to franchise-tag him and made it clear they had no interest in trading him. There was still a sliver of hope it could happen, but it's beyond apparent now that he will continue his run as the Cowboys' top pass catcher this upcoming season.
Despite that, he is still expected to be a free agent next year, which presents a massive opportunity for New England, even if Brown and Doubs are set to be under contract.
There are questions about the longevity of Brown's career in Foxboro, given his age and injury history, so if there is a chance to bring in a player like Pickens, who is only 25 years old and coming off a season where he recorded 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns, there's no reason for the Patriots to look the other way.
He wouldn't be cheap to sign, but if they believe he can be the future of the position and keep Maye in the upper echelon of quarterbacks, which only increases their chance of making another run at a Super Bowl, then he will be worth every penny.
On top of that, pairing him with Brown and Doubs would make for arguably the best receiving corps in the entire NFL, and that is far from something this team has had almost ever.
It doesn't seem like a difficult decision to inquire and make a solid offer, even if they will be in the midst of picking up Maye's fifth-year option and working on his first extension, too. Ensuring that he has an impressive group of receivers to work with will only make his job easier and, simultaneously, make a trip to the Super Bowl easier, too.
At the very least, it's a situation for them to monitor moving forward, especially if Pickens puts together another incredible season as Dak Prescott's top option, which should only fuel the Patriots' interest even more.
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This article was originally published on musketfire.com as Cowboys' bad decision could give Patriots a chance at a dream signing.
