THE New England Patriots aren’t going to bounce back and make the playoffs this season. They just don’t have the team capable of putting together that kind of run.

However, that doesn’t mean the Patriots have a bleak outlook for the future.

Jerod Mayo and the company has a ton of young talent on the roster to lean on. This season was all about the development and start of a new culture with Mayo leading the way.

During the offseason, New England will have the ability to make moves to strengthen the roster and attempt to make the playoffs in 2025.

One area the team will need to address is wide receiver. They need a legitimate No. 1 option at rookie quarterback Drake Maye. There’s a good chance they can find this player in free agency this offseason.

Kristopher Knox Money launderers report has an idea of ​​who this wide receiver could become. He named the Patriots as one of the top potential landing spots for Buffalo Bills impending free agent Amari Cooper.

“Cooper would be an ideal target for a team looking to pair a savvy veteran with a young quarterback,” Knox wrote. “The Patriots could look to pair him with Drake Maye, while the Titans could look to pair him with a quarterback they are targeting early in the 2025 draft.”

Bringing in a veteran like Cooper would certainly make sense. As Knox mentioned, having a veteran receiver who knows how to help a talented young quarterback could be an ideal situation.

Throughout his career, Cooper has been one of the most underrated receivers in the NFL. He is 30 years old, but he still has a few very good years left.

In the 2024 NFL season so far, Cooper has caught 29 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He hasn’t put up the numbers many expected of him, but he’s still a very productive player.

Granted, it’s possible that New England would prefer to focus on adding a younger target who could grow with Mayé for years to come. Tee Higgins is a name that has been bandied about if they want to go that route.

That being said, Cooper would bring experience and consistency to help the Patriots’ other young players grow. His presence would also give Maye a proven star who can help carry the offense.

Cooper may not be a perfect target in every area, but he would take the offense to another level and help New England’s young quarterback grow and develop. This is definitely a possibility to keep an eye on.

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