Through the first 13 weeks of the 2025 NFL season, the New England Patriots have been the best team in football.
Very few fans or analysts would have had that fact on their bingo cards heading into the year. While the Patriots were expected to take a step in the right direction under new head coach Mike Vrabel, no one was viewing them as a top-tier Super Bowl contender.
Despite the lower expectations, New England is exactly what was just said. Vrabel has his team looking like a squad that could go on to win the Super Bowl.
However, the Patriots are not going to get comfortable being a contender. Vrabel wants to bring back dominance to New England. With that in mind, the Patriots have been linked to a potentially franchise-altering trade during the upcoming NFL offseason.
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Patriots Wire analyst Jordy McElroy has suggested a trade scenario that would see New England acquire superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson from the Minnesota Vikings. One of his suggestions would have the Patriots trading two first-round picks and a player for Jefferson.
Jefferson has clearly been frustrated with the Vikings this season. With second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggling with injuries and his overall production on the field, Minnesota will miss the playoffs. Losing is not something that Jefferson enjoys.
Will one bad season be enough for him to decide that he can't win a Super Bowl with the Vikings? Perhaps not, but it's something to keep an eye on.
If Jefferson were to be made available by Minnesota, New England should absolutely jump into the mix. Giving rising star quarterback Drake Maye a weapon like Jefferson would change his career. That move would also make the Patriots a long-term Super Bowl contender.
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So far this season with the Vikings, Jefferson has had a major down year. In 12 games played, the 26-year-old superstar has racked up just 62 receptions for 799 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers aren't close to what fans have come to expect from him.
Expect to continue hearing a lot of rumors surrounding Jefferson and his future with Minnesota as the offseason draws closer. Keep an eye on New England as a potential destination if the unlikely scenario of Jefferson hitting the trade block does become a reality.
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