The New England Patriots clearly made the wrong decision at wide receiver in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Bill Belichick drafted Arizona State product N’Keal Harry with the No. 32 overall selection. He went before now standout pass-catchers such as D.K. Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, Diontae Johnson and Terry McLaurin.
Harry never caught on with New England despite a few flashes in the back half of his rookie campaign. He bounced around in multiple training camps since while several 2019 draftees entered the top tier of receivers around the league.
McLaurin certainly applies to that conversation. The Washington Commanders wideout tallied 1,000 yards in five consecutive seasons with a pair of Pro Bowl nods and finished just shy of that mark as a rookie. He never had quarterback consistency until Jayden Daniels burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2024 to lead the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game against the eventual Super Bowl champions in the Philadelphia Eagles.
Washington went to work to support Daniels this offseason and traded for McLaurin’s draft classmate in Samuel in a deal with the San Francisco 49ers. All seemed great for the Commanders’ receiver room, though the incumbent is reportedly frustrated with the organization.
FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported Thursday that McLaurin expressed frustration on the inability to reach a long-term deal with the Commanders and recently left voluntary workouts in the offseason program. Could the feelings lead McLaurin to ask for a trade?
If the situation goes down that road, the Patriots should absolutely hit the phones.
New England already added proven wideout Stefon Diggs this offseason, though there’s never enough weapons to help second-year quarterback Drake Maye. The Patriots need talent all across the offense and McLaurin can bring another dimension to the passing game.
It’s an added bonus to right the wrongs made when choosing a rookie receiver back in 2019.
McLaurin is currently set to hit free agency after the 2025 season.
