On Sunday, the New England Patriots played their final game before this week’s NFL trade deadline – which is this Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Now sitting at 2-6, it’s looking more and more like the team will need to be a seller prior to the trade window closing.
The Patriots knowing they need to trade players away is only half the story though. It takes two teams to complete a trade, and the Patriots will need a partner or partners on the other side of things.
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There’s multiple players on the Patriots that the team will likely receive calls on, plus a few more players that they might call out on themselves. Which teams will be on the other end of those calls?
It’s not like the other 31 teams in the league are all trying to add players. The Patriots will be dealing with a smaller group of teams trying to gear up for a Super Bowl run. When it comes to the top trade candidates, let’s take a look at the most logical landing spots…
TE Hunter Henry: Dallas Cowboys
Eric Canha-USA TODAY SportsSep 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) runs a route during the second half at against the Philadelphia Eagles Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Most of the top contending teams have top tight ends, so that may limit Henry’s market. However, the Cowboys are a notable exception. After losing Dalton Schultz in free agency this offseason the team drafted Luke Schoonmaker in the second round, but he’s struggled out of the gate. Jake Ferguson has taken over as the TE1 and has been serviceable, but there is room for the Cowboys to improve at the position.
If the Patriots don’t want to part with Henry – a pending free agent – or the Cowboys don’t want to give up what it would take to get him, Mike Gesicki could be an option here as well.
Other potential landing spots: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks
OL Mike Onwenu: San Francisco 49ers
Mark Konezny-USA TODAY SportsJan 8, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; New England Patriots guard Mike Onwenu (71) blocks against the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter at Highmark Stadium. Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Onwenu, another pending free agent, is the player on this list the Patriots should be the most hesitant to trade, but also one of the players they probably could get the most for. Not just because he’s good, but because of his positional flexibility.
That flexibility is what would make him a great fit for the Niners. San Francisco is dealing with short-term depth issues at tackle, while the guard play throughout the year has been below what was expected. Onwenu could help in both regards.
Other potential landing spots: Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons
OT Trent Brown: Los Angeles Rams
Al Bello/Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, NJ: Trent Brown of the New England Patriots in action against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 24, 2023. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Brown drew a lot of (fair) criticism for his play on Sunday, but his full body of work this season suggests he’s a player that would still be coveted via trade. He’s the second-highest graded tackle in football per PFF.
Meanwhile, Rams starting left tackle Alaric Jackson is the 66th-highest rated take in the league, having allowed 21 pressures in six games this year. At right tackle in LA, Rob Havenstein is hurt with a guard – Joe Noteboom – currently filling in for him.
With his injuries and the tape from last week, Brown’s value may dip a bit. But if the Rams want to continue to try and turn their season around, trading for Brown, who they won’t be tied to long-term, would be the kind of move they should be making.
Other potential landing spots: San Francisco 49ers
WR Tyquan Thornton: Kansas City Chiefs
Billie Weiss/Getty ImagesFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 22: Tyquan Thornton #11 of the New England Patriots carries the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
Given he was a healthy scratch on Sunday, it certainly seems like Thornton has fallen out of the Patriots’ wide receiver rotation just a year and a half into his career. While injuries to Kendrick Bourne and DeVante Parker may re-open a spot for him, it might also make sense for the Patriots to call around and see if any other teams are interested.
They likely won’t get a premium pick back in return, but teams generally overpay for wide receivers at the deadline. A sixth-round pick in return would be a sixth-round pick the Patriots wouldn’t otherwise have, in exchange for a player who is essentially in the final concrete year of his contract.
What team might make that kind of deal? How about the Kansas City Chiefs, who are desperate for wide receiver help and always put a premium on speed. Last year the Chiefs gave up a third- and sixth-round pick for Kadarius Toney, a first-round pick in 2021 who failed to pan out with the Giants. They probably wouldn’t give up as much this time around, but adding Thornton is the kind of move they’ve shown they’ll make.
Other potential landing spots: Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins
RB Ezekiel Elliott: Cleveland Browns
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsOct 29, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New England Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) runs the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
After a slow start to the season, Elliott has come on strong the past couple of weeks. Having reset his value since the summer, could he work his way back to a contender for a Day 3 pick? Teams can never have enough running back, and contenders will usually look to add at the position this time of year.
No team may be more pressed to add a running back right now than the Cleveland Browns. The only thing more surprising than the Browns staying in contention following Nick Chubb’s season-ending knee injury is them doing so with Deshaun Watson battling injury and playing poorly.
Cold, snowy games in Cleveland are built for smashmouth football, and Elliott still clearly has that bowling-ball style working for him. He’d be a good complement to Kareem Hunt in the Browns’ backfield, taking some of the pressure off of Cleveland’s passing game.
Other potential landing spots: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals
LB Josh Uche: Las Vegas Raiders
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 20: Josh Uche #55 of the New England Patriots celebrates during the first quarter against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
There’s been more news/rumors about a pending Uche trade than any other players on the Patriots. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’s the most called-about player on the team, heading into a contract year.
Which team will win the sweepstakes? The Raiders would make a lot of sense. If Vegas beats the Lions tonight, the Raiders will be back at .500 and right in the middle of the AFC Wild Card race. The team needs another speed rusher opposite Maxx Crosby to replace Chandler Jones. On top of all of that, GM Dave Ziegler was the Patriots’ assistant director of player personnel when the Patriots drafted Uche in 2020, and has already brought a significant number of former Patriots with him to Vegas.
Other potential landing spots: Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars
S Kyle Dugger: Pittsburgh Steelers
Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY SportsJan 1, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (23) runs for a touchdown after intercepting the ball during the second half of agame against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
After a slow start to the season, the Patriots’ top 2020 draft pick put together a monster game on Sunday. In the final year of his contract, will Dugger now end up getting moved?
If he does, he’d be a great fit in Pittsburgh with the Steelers. The Steelers do have Mikah Fitzpatrick, but their safety contributions are minimal beyond him. Adding Dugger would give the Steelers a presence as a strong box safety, allowing them to maximize Fitzpatrick’s versatility. Dugger and Fitzpatrick would become one of the elite safety duos in the NFL if this deal happened.
Other potential landing spots: Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions
