{"id":28627,"date":"2025-01-23T23:39:11","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T23:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=28627"},"modified":"2025-01-23T23:39:11","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T23:39:11","slug":"update-5-patriots-offseason-fixes-no-4-six-potential-trade-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=28627","title":{"rendered":"UPDATE: 5 Patriots offseason fixes: No. 4 \u2014 Six potential trade candidates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>5 Patriots offseason fixes: No. 4 \u2014 Six potential trade candidates<\/p>\n<article id=\"post-5321392\" class=\"full-view post-5321392 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-new-england-patriots category-nfl category-sports tag-new-england-patriots tag-nfl tag-patriots feature-microsoft location-massachusetts\">\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"header-features default\">\n<div id=\"mng-gallery-a232a3e8fa13bbc04ec3d440bd3f8410\" class=\"article-slideshow\">\n<div class=\"mng-gallery-list draggable\">\n<div class=\"mng-gallery-track\">\n<ul>\n<li id=\"mng-ge-0\" class=\"mng-ge mng-gallery-active\" tabindex=\"0\" data-index=\"1\" aria-hidden=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapper mng-gallery-image-load-listener-added\"><img class=\"size-article_inline\" sizes=\"(max-width: 40em) 620px,(min-width: 40em) and (max-width: 50em) 780px,(min-width: 50em) and (max-width: 65em) 810px,(min-width: 65em) and (max-width: 80em) 1280px,(min-width: 80em) 1860px,1860px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bostonherald.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP22339173601964.jpg?w=620 620w,https:\/\/www.bostonherald.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP22339173601964.jpg?w=780 780w,https:\/\/www.bostonherald.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP22339173601964.jpg?w=810 810w,https:\/\/www.bostonherald.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP22339173601964.jpg?w=1280 1280w,https:\/\/www.bostonherald.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP22339173601964.jpg?w=1860 1860w\" alt=\"Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel talks with Philadelphia Eagles...\" \/><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"caption mng-gallery-information-container\">\n<p class=\"slideshow-caption mng-gallery-image-caption\">Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel talks with Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) prior to the NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Chris Szagola)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<div class=\"body-copy mng-metered-content\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Article Links\">\n<p>It\u2019s a new era in New England \u2014 again.<\/p>\n<p>Under new coach Mike Vrabel, the Pats are again overhauling their football operations after a 4-13 season. Vrabel\u2019s vision is now the franchise\u2019s vision as they continue to rebuild, though the Patriots retained executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf to lead their personnel department. This offseason, the Patriots are projected to hold a league-leading $120 million in cap space, and four draft picks in the top 80, starting at No. 4 overall.<\/p>\n<p>To put the Patriots back on track, the Herald is publishing a daily series with five offseason fixes that cover the draft, free agency and coaching.<\/p>\n<h4>No. 1: Sign Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin<br \/>\nNo. 2: Draft and sign new offensive tackles<br \/>\nNo. 3: Rebuild the pass rush<\/h4>\n<h4>No. 4: Six potential trade candidates<\/h4>\n<p>The easiest way for the Patriots to spend their $130 million in cap space is through free agency. But sometimes the wisest way to acquire veteran players is via trade.<\/p>\n<p>Typically, the league\u2019s best players never actually hit the open market. Either their team makes it a priority to sign or franchise them before they hit free agency, or they realize they can acquire valuable draft capital in dealing them via trade.<\/p>\n<p>A team needs to give up an asset to acquire a veteran player via trade, but sometimes that also provides some cap relief over signing a player via free agency since their signing bonus has already been paid out.<\/p>\n<p>No trade can be completed until after the new league year begins on March 12, but teams can agree to a deal before that time.<\/p>\n<p>Here are six potential trades that would make sense for the Patriots to explore.<\/p>\n<h4>WR A.J. Brown<\/h4>\n<p>For the second straight year, the Eagles\u2019 offense ranked seventh in points and eight in total yards, but thanks to the acquisition of running back Saquon Barkley, they completely changed the formula of how they were scoring and moving down the field. In 2023, they ranked 21st in passing attempts and 16th in passing yards. This season, they were 32nd in passing attempts and 29th in yards.<\/p>\n<p>Ideally, you\u2019d like to have Barkley, Brown and Devonta Smith all on your team, but it might not be necessary to have three upper-echelon playmakers.<\/p>\n<p>After Vrabel was hired, he spoke of the strong relationship he maintains with Brown from their days with the Titans.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s exactly what the Patriots\u2019 offense needs if they don\u2019t feel confident in acquiring a free-agent wide receiver like Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin.<\/p>\n<p>The Patriots have Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and Ja\u2019Lynn Polk under contract for the 2025 season. That\u2019s a decent starting point for a wide receiver corps, but ideally, the team would like to add one or two more difference-makers.<\/p>\n<p>The No. 4 overall pick would be too steep to acquire Brown, but a future first or multiple Day 2 picks could get the deal done.<\/p>\n<h4>WR Deebo Samuel<\/h4>\n<p>Samuel, like Brown, was a member of the 2019 NFL Draft class. Patriots fans might not need to be reminded that N\u2019Keal Harry was drafted over both players. Whoops.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel is not as productive or consistent as Brown at this point in their careers, but he would also immediately become the Patriots\u2019 top pass-catching option.<\/p>\n<p>He hasn\u2019t had a 1,000-yard receiving season since 2021, but Samuel still provides versatility as a pass-catcher and ball-carrier, which new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could have some fun with.<\/p>\n<p>A release doesn\u2019t seem out of the realm of possibility here. Sending a mid-to-late round pick should be able to get a deal done for Samuel.<\/p>\n<h4>WR Garrett Wilson<\/h4>\n<p>If a young wide receiver is going to get traded, it will typically happen after his third NFL season, since it presents a crossroads for his team as they decide whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option in a contract.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s where Wilson sits now. ESPN\u2019s Rich Cimini said last month that people in Wilson\u2019s camp expect him to request a trade this offseason.<\/p>\n<p>Wilson is still just 24 years old, and this isn\u2019t the strongest draft class for top-end wide receivers. Pairing Wilson and Drake Maye could do wonders for both players\u2019 careers.<\/p>\n<p>The Patriots would pick up Wilson\u2019s fifth-year option in his scenario, locking him in through the 2026 season and likely sign him to a contract extension, as well.<\/p>\n<p>Acquiring Wilson would likely require the Patriots to send a future first-round pick or multiple Day 2 picks to the Jets.<\/p>\n<h4>WR D.K. Metcalf<\/h4>\n<p>The Seahawks need cap relief and could choose to free it up by trading Metcalf, another member of the 2019 NFL Draft class who\u2019s still just 27 years old.<\/p>\n<p>Metcalf would fill a major need for the Patriots at the \u201cX\u201d receiver position and immediate become their best pass-catcher. He has an affordable salary of just $18 million but would likely want an extension to come with any type of trade.<\/p>\n<p>The price tag for Metcalf would likely be less than what it would require for the Patriots to land Brown or Wilson, simply because of the Seahawks\u2019 cap situation.<\/p>\n<h4>DT Jeffrey Simmons<\/h4>\n<p>The Titans defensive tackle reacted positively to the news that his former defensive line coach, Terrell Williams, was hired by the Patriots as their new defensive coordinator, tweeting, \u201cWow! So happy for Big T man! You deserve it Coach! Congrats to you and your family!\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Wow! So happy for Big T man! You deserve it Coach! Congrats to you and your family!\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6JtTVvRMTZ\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6JtTVvRMTZ\">https:\/\/t.co\/6JtTVvRMTZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jeffery Simmons (@GrindSimmons94)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GrindSimmons94\/status\/1882084447736185253?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GrindSimmons94\/status\/1882084447736185253?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Simmons, 27, was drafted by Vrabel in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. If acquired via trade, he\u2019d come with a three-year, $62 million contract, which is a bargain for a player of his level.<\/p>\n<p>Simmons caused havoc for the Patriots in their matchup this season. The Patriots\u2019 defensive line needs all of the help they can get.<\/p>\n<p>If the Titans make Simmons available, the Patriots should jump at the opportunity to acquire him. It wouldn\u2019t be cheap, however.<\/p>\n<h4>OT Evan Neal<\/h4>\n<p>The 2022 first-round pick hasn\u2019t lived up to his pedigree three years into his NFL career. Despite offensive line struggles, the Giants didn\u2019t even play Neal until Week 10.<\/p>\n<p>The Patriots need all of the help, bodies and talent they can get on the offensive line. Even with his struggles, Neal would provide an upgrade at right tackle. It\u2019s also possible that a move inside to guard could help Neal get his career back on track.<\/p>\n<p>Acquiring Neal via trade would be a low-risk move the potential for a high payoff.<img decoding=\"async\" id=\"06db9294\" src=\"https:\/\/paywall-ad-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com\/ad_300_250.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>5 Patriots offseason fixes: No. 4 \u2014 Six potential trade candidates Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel talks with Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) prior&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":28628,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>UPDATE: 5 Patriots offseason fixes: No. 4 \u2014 Six potential trade candidates - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=28627\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UPDATE: 5 Patriots offseason fixes: No. 4 \u2014 Six potential trade candidates - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"5 Patriots offseason fixes: No. 4 \u2014 Six potential trade candidates Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel talks with Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. 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