New England Patriots

New England Patriots

New England Patriots

Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

  • As the Patriots were warming up for their preseason game against the Panthers Friday night, the wide receiver trade talks surrounding the team reached a high point. However, Tyquan Thornton’s shoulder injury has put a damper on those rumors.

    Those conversations have apparently slowed down inside the building as well. According to PFF’s Doug Kyed, “it seems unlikely that New England would trade a wide receiver after Thornton’s injury.”

    Original speculation about a wide receiver trade wasn’t just about the team’s overall of depth at the position, but also their lack of cap space. Kyed points out the Patriots now “must decide between depth at the position (knowing they’ll get Thornton back at some point) and salary cap space.”


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  • If the Patriots do end up moving a receiver, Kyed highlights Nelson Agholor as the most logical option. Agholor has had a strong summer, and trading him would open up just under $10 million in cap space. However, a team taking on Agholor’s contract would be on the hook for about $9 million, which drops his value.

    Kendrick Bourne’s name had also come up more in trade rumors after he was kicked out of a joint practice last week then held out of the preseason game on Friday. However, Kyed points out that the issue “wasn’t a serious matter.”

    At this point, it’s seeming more and more likely that if the Patriots do make a trade between now and the final roster cuts a week from Tuesday, it won’t involve a wide receiver. They still may move an offensive player though – on Monday, SI’s Albert Breer reported they have talked with other teams about tackle Isaiah Wynn.

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