The New England Patriots they won’t come back and make the playoffs this season. They just don’t have the team that can make that kind of run.

However, that doesn’t mean there’s a dull outlook for the Patriots looking to the future.

Jerod Mayo and the company have plenty of young talent on the roster to build around. This season has been all about development and starting a new culture, with Mayo leading the way.

In the offseason, New England will have the ability to make moves to bolster the roster and try to make a run at the 2025 playoffs.

One area the team will need to address is wide receiver. They need a legitimate option no. 1 for the rookie quarterback Drake Maye. There’s a good chance they’ll find that player in free agency during the offseason.

Christopher Knox by The Bleacher Report has an idea of ​​who the wide receiver might end up being. He named the Patriots as a top potential landing spot for Buffalo Bills impending free agent Amari Cooper.

“Cooper would be an ideal target for a team looking to pair a smart 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’re targeting early in the 2025 draft.”

Bringing in a veteran like Cooper would certainly make sense. As Knox mentioned, having a veteran quarterback 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’s 30 years old, but he still has a few very good years left in him.

During 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 him to, but he’s still a very productive man.

Of course, there’s a chance New England would rather focus on adding a younger target that they could grow with May for the years to come. Tee Higgins was a name that came up if they wanted to go that route.

That said, Cooper will bring experience and consistency to help the Patriots’ other youngsters 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. It’s definitely a possibility to watch.

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