Oct 14, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks to his teammates in game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated Kansas City 43-40. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Don’t be surprised if the Patriots add a player before Tuesday’s trade deadline. But apparently, players could be on the way out as well.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport told Good Morning Football on Tuesday that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Patriots traded for a wide receiver at the deadline. But he said he also wouldn’t be surprised if they traded a wide receiver out of Foxboro.
From @gmfb: Which defenders are involved in trade talks? #Packers S Haha Clinton-Dix, #Browns LB Jamie Collins, #Raiders pass-rusher Bruce Irvin, #Giants CB Janoris Jenkins and others... pic.twitter.com/oNJCyhP4LC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 30, 2018
If the Patriots do end up trading a receiver away, it would be hard for them to get a ton of value in return. Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon are the only players who won’t be unrestricted free agents after 2018, and Edelman almost certainly won’t be traded (but it wouldn’t be the first time Bill Belichick shocked us).
Perhaps they want to cut their “losses” on Gordon and then acquire a “premium” receiver like Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer referred to on Sunday. Despite the apparent inaccuracy of Rapoport’s reporting on Gordon being disciplined against the Bills (he played 84 percent of snaps), the former Browns wideout remains far from a long-term option.
It could also mean that the Patriots want to get some sort of value out of either Chris Hogan or Phillip Dorsett before they depart, if they get can something more than what they’d get for a compensatory pick in the offseason. Both are in the final years of their contracts and Dorsett has barely seen the field since the emergence of Gordon. That last part shouldn’t be enough to make it worth shipping Dorsett out of town, but adding yet another receiver to the depth chart could.
Buckle up. Sounds like a head-turning move(s) is coming from Foxboro today.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.