New England Patriots: Larry Fitzgerald from Cardinals for 3rd Round Pick
The Patriots took no risk in acquiring Josh Gordon from the Cleveland Browns, and they now have Julian Edelman back from suspension. But their lack of talent at wide receiver is still glaring, and that has to put them in market for reinforcements as the trade deadline approaches.
Fitzgerald is likely playing his final NFL season, and a chance at a Super Bowl ring is not coming with the rebuilding Cardinals as they turn to Josh Rosen under center. So he’d presumably be open to a trade, if it gave him a chance to cap his Hall of Fame career with a title. There’s no better place to get that chance than New England, and it just happens that Fitzgerald would fill a critical need for the Patriots.
Through the years some new receivers have struggled to pick up New England’s playbook and get on the same page with Tom Brady. Fitzgerald would be one to not have those problems though, as a consummate professional who will put in the extra work to learn a new, complex offense on the fly. Even with some potential redundancy with how Edelman is used, Fitzgerald should be able to find a comfortable place in New England’s passing game.
It would be weird seeing Fitzgerald with anything other than that little red cardinal on the side of his helmet. But he’s of little use to a team with a firm eye on the future, and the Patriots have to put good pieces around Brady with an eye on another deep playoff run.