The New England Patriots were rumored to be one of the team’s interested in Odell Beckham Jr. before he was shipped off to the Cleveland Browns, but apparently he wasn’t the only New York Giants wide receiver the team had eyes on.
Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports that Bill Belichick and the Patriots had interest in trading for Sterling Shepard prior to his four-year, $41 million extension.
Sterling Shepard’s contract extension with the Giants is especially important because a trade to the New England Patriots was a real possible alternative.
Bill Belichick and the Pats had interest in Shepard this offseason, according to a source, as a deadly new weapon for ageless six-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady.
With Rob Gronkowski having retired, Josh Gordon’s future uncertain and Chris Hogan a free agent, the Patriots are in need of weapons to surround quarterback Tom Brady. Both Beckham and Shepard would have been logical fits in New England.
The Patriots had also been in on free agent Adam Humphries, but lost out on him when he signed with the Tennessee Titans. Instead, they’ve settled for wide receivers Maurice Harris and Bruce Ellington, as well as tight ends Matt LaCosse, who previously spent time with the Giants, and Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
New England’s interest in Shepard speaks volumes about his ability, but the Giants extending his contract also speaks volumes about what general manager Dave Gettleman & Co. think about his value to the team going forward.
