The New England Patriots are ready to fast-track a rebuild with a new head coach in 2025 and quarterback Drake Maye already displaying star qualities across his rookie campaign despite an otherwise weak roster.

Besting the Buffalo Bills in Week 18 wasn’t the best path toward stacking talent in the coming offseason, as the victory dropped the Pats from the No. 1 overall pick to the fourth selection.

That said, the team still has the most projected salary cap space in the NFL in 2025 ($133.3 million as of Tuesday) and nine draft picks this April, including four selections in the first three rounds.

All of the Patriots’ money and assets could put the team in play for a blockbuster trade or two in the coming months, which ESPN’s Benjamin Solak predicted on Monday.

“After trying (and failing) in the Tee Higgins market, the Patriots will put together a solid trade for a veteran receiver,” Solak wrote. “DK Metcalf and DJ Moore are the two names that make the most sense. The Patriots won’t mind sending away draft capital for immediate contributors, as they plan to trade out of the No. 4 overall pick anyway.”

Moore, of the Chicago Bears, and Metcalf, of the Seattle Seahawks, are both 27 years old. And while Moore is technically more expensive after signing a $110 million extension, he is also under contract through 2029.

Metcalf is playing on a $72 million deal that ends following next season, which means he will probably be seeking an extension of his own come March. A trade for Moore would probably be a little simpler and cleaner for the Patriots at this juncture, though who New England pursues could depend simply on the varying levels of interest from the Bears and Seahawks organizations in moving their respective top wide receivers.

Those teams’ relative interest will likely hinge upon how they envision their offensive futures and how much they value the No. 4 pick in the coming draft. As it stands now, Chicago will select 10th overall and could have two picks inside the top-10 for the second consecutive year if the team is willing to part ways with Moore.

The Seahawks select 18th, the lowest pick of any non-playoff team, which could render the fourth overall selection more valuable to them than it might be to the Bears.