Over recent seasons, the New England Patriots have struggled offensively, with their inability to advance the ball and score likely contributing to Bill Belichick’s firing and his subsequent failure to secure a coaching position this offseason. A significant factor in their offensive woes has been a lackluster receiving corps.
During an appearance on the Pardon My Take Podcast, Adam Thielen revealed that former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick had considered trading for him following the 2018 season. At that time, Thielen was coming off an outstanding season with the Minnesota Vikings, recording 113 catches for 1,373 yards and 9 touchdowns, solidifying his status as one of the league’s top wideouts.
Tom Brady’s 2019 season turned out to be his last with New England before he moved to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady’s dissatisfaction in Foxborough was often attributed to the lack of reliable targets. In a desperate attempt to appease Brady, Belichick traded a second-round pick for Atlanta receiver Mohamed Sanu during the 2019 season. However, this effort was insufficient to retain Brady, as the Patriots were eliminated in their first playoff game.
