NFL Trade Rumors
The NFL trade deadline only comes around once per year, so we’ve been trying to keep up with the demand for trade rumors here at NFLTR. In the past few weeks we’ve published:
Today we’re going to keep it coming with another eight mock trade proposals, with these geared towards connecting the dots on the buzz coming from this past week.
New England has been busy this week shipping out players. The Patriots agreed to deals to send S Kyle Dugger to the Steelers and DE Keion White to the 49ers, continuing the exodus of players since HC Mike Vrabel took over. Dugger and White were once viewed as key building blocks for the program, with White showing early promise as a second-round pick in 2023 and Dugger earning a long-term deal ahead of the 2024 season. But neither was playing much of a factor in the Patriots’ hot start to this year.
Most of the time, contending teams are more interested in adding than subtracting, and that could be the other shoe to drop for the Patriots now that they have a little extra draft capital to play with. Reports have said the team is interested in fortifying its depth chart at running back and edge rusher. Patriots RBs Rhamondre Stevenson and second-rounder TreVeyon Henderson have been a little inconsistent, and injuries have thinned the group too. Edge rusher is a premium position where the Patriots need more to go with Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson, free agent signings who have been pleasant surprises.
Here’s how the Patriots could address both needs in one swoop, working in tandem with a team where they still have significant connections, both in the front office and schematically — the Texans.
Patriots give:
Texans give:
The sixth/seventh swap is the NFL equivalent of loose change and one of the lowest possible trade compensations. Here, the Patriots get a two-for-one special with Pierce and Taylor, two players who clearly are not in the Texans’ plans so far this season. Both have been active for just three games apiece all year and have barely contributed.
However, it’s possible they could be more useful in New England. Once upon a time as a rookie, Pierce ran for nearly 1,000 yards with a running style like a bucking bronco. Multiple offensive scheme changes knocked his career off track and he’s in the final year of his rookie contract. His best year came under former Texans OC Pep Hamilton, who ran a similar scheme to current...
