Patriots likely to trade for WR Jayden Higgins

The New England Patriots are preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft after a difficult 2024 season where they finished with a record of 4-13. The team has been active during the free agency period, but they still have many needs to fill, especially at left tackle and wide receiver. Recent predictions suggest that the Patriots will make two trades in the first round of the draft. First, they are expected to move back from the fourth overall pick to the ninth pick with the New Orleans Saints. Then, they might trade up from the 38th pick to the 24th pick with the Minnesota Vikings. A key target for the Patriots in this potential move is wide receiver Jayden Higgins from Iowa State. He had a standout season, recording 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns. At 6-foot-4 with a 39-inch vertical leap, Higgins could provide a significant presence on the field for their young quarterback Drake Maye. The Vikings are looking to acquire more draft picks, having only four after trading for a running back. This makes a trade with the Patriots a possibility. If the Patriots use their early pick on a tackle and Higgins is still available at 24, this prediction for the Patriots to acquire him may very well come true.