Why the New England Patriots Need Chad Ochocinco (Not Really, But It'd Be Nice)

First off, this isn't 2006. The Patriots aren't trotting out the likes of Doug Gabriel and Reche Caldwell at wide receiver which ended up with them requiring the monster '07 offseason acquisitions of Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Dante Stallworth.

With a core of Welker, Deion Branch, Brandon Tate and rookie Taylor Price figuring to play a much bigger role next year (not to mention two stud tight ends), wide receiver is not a dire concern. If a tally were taken of the Patriots offseason needs, wide receiver wouldn't crack the top five. Outside linebacker, defensive and offensive line, running back and the secondary would all rate higher. The Patriots are more than set at wide out heading into the 2011 season.

Also one might think that with how the Randy Moss marriage ended the Patriots wouldn't be in the market for another "Diva" wide receiver, but these are two different players. By the end, Moss had become a one-trick pony, only able to "stretch the field" with go route after go route. Ochocinco, while a deep threat, is what the Patriots love most, a route runner. There's no need to worry about "alligator arms" for balls over the middle, and his biggest asset won't be that of a decoy.

So, if you can add Chad Ochocinco, why wouldn't you? Let take a look at some factors on why they should.

1. Ocho has already made it known he'd love to play for Coach Belichick and the Patriots. Is it any coincidence that Chad is dropping the Ochocinco, and bringing back Johnson? Maybe someone letting a certain organization know he's willing to check his ego at the door in hopes of playing for a winner. Couldn't be, could it?

2. It won't cost much to get him. He only has one year left on his contract. If the Bengals cut him, he can be signed, but even if a trade is needed with seven picks in the first four rounds, the Patriots have plenty of ammunition to make a deal.

3. As Cory Dillon and Randy Moss showed Pats fans, in the first year everything should be roses as Chad tries to prove himself, and set himself up for a big contract after the season. What could be a bigger issue is that both Dillon and Moss were never as good (both on and off the field) after they got their payday, but for '11? Everything’s Zen.

To reiterate, this isn't a necessity, but a luxury. Can the Patriots win a championship with what they have now? Yes, they've already done it three times with less talented wide outs. This shouldn't be the Patriots top priority this offseason, nowhere near it. If the Patriots can’t upgrade their poor pass rush from this season they’ll be hard pressed to finish much better than this past season.

If the bank doesn’t need to be broken (which it doesn’t) wouldn’t you rather see a Patriots depth chart with Johnson and Branch on either side with Welker in the slot, or one without? The question answers itself.