New England Patriots - NESN.com
For as big of a story as the New England Patriots have been through Week 6 at 4-2, there’s still one glaringly obvious weakness on the team.
The Patriots’ ground game ranks 26th in the NFL with 91.5 rushing yards per game.
Could a certain “King” be a good fit for New England’s rushing attack?
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons floated a blockbuster trade idea between the Patriots and Baltimore Ravens on Monday that would send five-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry to New England. Simmons’ trade proposal ships Patriots starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson and a second-round pick to the Ravens.
“What pick would get (Baltimore’s) attention? Like our second? What if our second and Rhamondre? They got to take Rhamondre, well they need a running back,” Simmons said to his guest, Cousin Sal on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “You know who used to work together? Derrick Henry and Mike Vrabel. Yeah they used to have a really great relationship once upon a time.”
Some pieces of what Cousin Sal called a “fantasy trade” make sense.
At 1-5, Baltimore is fading fast, and while Henry is a future Hall-of-Famer, he’ll also turn 32 years old in January and will (presumably) slow down eventually.
The Alabama product also has a history with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, spending six seasons together with the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023.
Stevenson, meanwhile, has struggled mightily again this year, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry while committing three fumbles.
New England appears to be very much ready to make their first postseason since the 2021 campaign and could use another offensive star like Henry.
The Ravens may not be ready to give up their former Offensive Player of the Year, however, especially with two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson expected to return from his injury following the team’s Week 7 bye.
For now, this is indeed, merely a “fantasy trade.”
