Patriots WR Javon BakerFred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Cowboys receive: 2025 first-round pick, 2025 third-round pick, 2026 third-rounder, Javon Baker
Patriots receive: CeeDee Lamb
The New England Patriots showed interest in acquiring Brandon Aiyuk, but according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, they have backed out of trade negotiations with the San Francisco 49ers.
Based on receiving numbers and accolades, Lamb, a three-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro, is a more accomplished receiver than Aiyuk, who doesn’t have a single Pro Bowl or first-team All-Pro campaign on his resume.
The Patriots should inquire about Lamb with the intent to go above and beyond to satisfy his contract demands. New England has $43.2 million in cap space and will have $78.3 million next year.
This offseason, New England has tried to add juice to its offense, drafting wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the second and fourth rounds, respectively, and signing wideout K.J. Osborn.
Polk has generated a lot of buzz at training camp, and Baker has shown flashes as well.
Baker seems motivated to show that a team should’ve picked him earlier in the draft. You can sense the Amon-Ra St. Brown vibes from him. With a chip on his shoulder, he could be a Day 3 draft steal.
Because the Patriots are offering a wide receiver with a blank resume, they would likely have to add a little more in their trade package in comparison to the other teams. New England could toss in a 2026 second-rounder to draw the Cowboys’ interest.
In this trade scenario, Dallas would take a big risk, but perhaps the team strongly believes Tolbert blossoms into a key playmaker while Brandin Cooks and budding third-year tight end Jake Ferguson round out a solid pass-catching trio.
Player contract and team salary-cap details are provided by Over the Cap.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.