Report: Patriots Were 'Wary' of Adding DK Metcalf, Davante Adams Alongside Drake Maye

The New England Patriots were reportedly hesitant to bring in a veteran wide receiver alongside their young quarterback this offseason.

Per NBC Sports Boston's Tom E. Curran, New England was "exceedingly wary of the negative impact a demanding veteran wideout could have on" second-year quarterback Drake Maye, thus leading the Patriots to stay out of the race for DK Metcalf and Davante Adams.

Adams ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Rams while the Seattle Seahawks traded Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Curran noted that free agent receiver Chris Godwin was the player the Patriots "loved," but he ended up staying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a three-year, $66 million deal.

New England hasn't been completely complacent in finding wideouts for Maye this offseason as they signed free-agent receiver Mack Hollins last week. Hollins, a fourth-round draft pick in 2017, has played for four different teams since 2021, most recently picking up 378 receiving yards and a career-high five touchdowns with the Buffalo Bills in 2024.

While the signing of Hollins gives the Patriots more depth in their wide receiver room, it doesn't give them the No. 1 option they've been looking for.

New England had very few reliable targets last season as tight end Hunter Henry led the team in receiving yards with 674. Henry and wide receiver DeMario Douglas, who had 621 receiving yards and two touchdowns, were the only two Patriots to record more than 600 receiving yards.

The wide receiver free agent market is getting smaller every week, so New England will need to act fast if it wants to find its WR1 on the open market. Otherwise, the Patriots will likely pivot to finding a receiver in the NFL draft.

Maye had a solid start to his NFL career in 2024, recording 2,276 passing yards and 15 touchdowns along with 421 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground in 13 games. With the right receivers around him, Maye should only get better in Year 2.