The New England Patriots desperately need a No. 1 receiver in the coming phases of their ongoing rebuild.

The staples are already in place with head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye. While the search continues for that game-changing pass-catcher, Saturday saw an NFL blockbuster that could serve as a negative double-whammy for the Patriots.

The Washington Commanders took a major player off the market when they traded for San Francisco 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. The surprise NFC East team that made a run to the NFC Championship Game now gains another impact target for young quarterback Jayden Daniels. MassLive’s Mark Daniels reported Saturday on X that the Patriots did not make a run at Samuel.

That’s not the end of the 49ers in this discussion.

San Francisco also came into rumors with Brandon Aiyuk, the impact receiver who suffered a season-ending knee injury just months after a new four-year deal with the 49ers. The Patriots would’ve made sense if the 49ers wanted to move a receiver, but it’s hard to see them doing that after already moving one with Samuel and not appearing to head to a major rebuild on the offensive side of the football.

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With Samuel off the board and Aiyuk less likely to move from San Francisco, the Patriots will likely need to look elsewhere for a trade partner, though they very well could keep their sites in the NFC West.

Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images