Getty
New England Patriots tight end, Austin Hooper
The New England Patriots are coming off what was likely not been their desired start to the 2025 season, when they lost to the Las Vegas Raiders – now lead by Super Bowl-winning head coach, Pete Carroll – 20-13.
The Patriots registered just one sack last Sunday, which came from safety Jaylinn Hawkins. And although both of the team’s starting edge rushers, K’Lavon Chaisson and Harold Landry III, joined earlier this year during free agency, it seems like the team may want some more depth at the position.
So Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggests that the team could entertain trading for San Francisco 49ers defensive end and 2020 second rounder, Yetur Gross-Matos, in exchange for veteran, 2 x Pro Bowl tight end, Austin Hooper.
Patriots Could Benefit From Some Additional Help On The Edge
“In this hypothetical scenario, the 49ers call the New England Patriots about backup tight end Austin Hooper.” Knox wrote on Friday, “The 30-year-old saw just a single reception in Week 1 but caught 45 passes for 476 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Hooper also played under 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons. He has a modest $2 million base salary that would be reasonable for a short-term rental.”
The 49ers need another option at tight end, after George Kittle landed on short-term IR with a hamstring injury, a move that will cause him to miss at least the next four games. And the Patriots need some reinforcement on defense – particularly the line – as Knox notes.
“To make this a deal that also benefits the Patriots, the 49ers could offer defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos in a trade. He’s set to be a free agent in the spring and played just 17 defensive snaps in San Francisco’s season opener. However, he could help bolster a Patriots defense that surrendered 389 yards in Week 1.”
Would Yetur Gross Matos Be A Good Addition In New England?
Currently, behind Chaisson, Landry and former second round pick, Keion White; who between them will occupy the majority of snaps on defense at the position; lies undrafted free agent, Elijah Ponder.
Ponder has clearly done exceedingly well to play his way onto the active roster in his rookie year as a UDFA – and his 5 defensive snaps in Week 1 earned him a very respectable 60.1 grade from Pro Football Focus. But he does not – at least yet – have the pedigree that Gross-Matos has in the league; both in terms of his draft stock coming into the NFL and his pro-football production to date.
Gross-Matos managed a career high 4.5 sacks in 2023 with the Carolina Panthers, before the 49ers signed him to a 2-year, $18 million deal in which they received in return, 4 sacks in addition to 19 total tackles and an impressive 5.5 stuffs in 2024.
The Niners added to their edge-rushing corps this offseason, drafting Mykel Williams out of Georgia with the 11th overall pick before trading for former Philadelphia Eagle, Bryce Huff in June – with former DPOY, Nick Bosa, already on the team – and as such may regard Gross-Matos as surplus to requirements.
Gross-Matos has an opportunity to provide head coach, Mike Vrabel, and the Patriots’ edge-rotation with another experienced, proven performer against both the run and the pass. And given the already existent presence of Hunter Henry, alongside numerous other pass-catching options on offense, this could be a smart play for New England.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
