New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots picked up a 24-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9, and they will now immediately shift their attention to the trade deadline. With a 7-2 record, the expectation is that the Patriots will be active when it comes to their quest to upgrade their roster.
Last week, the Pats swung a pair of trades, but they operated as sellers rather than buyers, as they dealt away Keion White and Kyle Dugger for draft capital. As the team’s win over the Falcons showed, though, it could use some help at several spots on its roster.
With that in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team bring a new face or two to town over the next day or so. According to one team insider, though, the Patriots could end up being very quiet ahead of the deadline.
“The Patriots will pull their bats out, but I don’t expect them to swing for the fences ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline,” Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald reported. “The names to know are lower-level players like Titans defensive end Arden Key, possibly Saints wideout Rashid Shaheed, Giants running back Devin Singletary and others.
Fans might feel their 6-2 start should compel the front office to rush to the negotiating table, (but) the inverse may be true. Exceeding expectations thus far may, in fact, be their leverage … The Patriots know they are not one player away from becoming perennial contenders … But they are one offseason away if they keep all their bullets in the chamber.”
By exceeding expectations through nine games, New England has put itself in a good spot at the trade deadline. And while it may be an unpopular decision, playing it safe could be the best move for the franchise’s future. Either way, it will be worth keeping tabs on the Pats, but fans may not end up getting the sort of big moves they are currently hoping for.
