6 rings postgame show: Mike Kadlick joins the show to discuss what's next for the Patriots
The Patriots are 2-6 through eight weeks and, with the NFL trade deadline coming up this Tuesday, October 31st, have a unique opportunity in front of them to reshape their team both for the now and for the future.
In all sports, when the deadline rolls around, the question becomes: are you going to be buyers or sellers?
Perhaps New England could be both. Here’s a look at four players they could either trade, or trade for, at the deadline:
LB Josh Uche
It feels inevitable that the Patriots will move on from linebacker Josh Uche, who didn’t make the trip to Miami this weekend, at the deadline. Not only did the two sides reportedly halt their contract extension discussions, but according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, teams have interest in the former third-round pick.
If New England has no plans to either extend Uche this season or re-sign him in March, then there’s no excuse to not get something for him on the trade market.
QB Mac Jones
Hear me out…
The Patriots are 2-6 and not really playing for anything the rest of the way, and both quarterback health and performance is down across the entire league.
A potential destination that keeps popping up for Jones is Minnesota. After Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon on Sunday, the 4-4 Vikings may be in the market to help them execute a postseason push in the murky NFC Wild Card race. If New England is willing to sell on their third-year signal caller, then maybe it’s worth a call if you’re Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. With Cousins set to hit free agency, perhaps you’ll even find your quarterback of the future.
The bold prediction here, for me, is San Francisco. The 49ers have now dropped three straight games after a 5-0 start and quarterback Brock Purdy looks more and more like Mr. Irrelevant by the day.
Kyle Shanahan reportedly wanted Mac Jones from the start when his team traded up to the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was talked into Trey Lance. Is it feasible that John Lynch and his front office in the Bay Area right their wrongs and acquire Mac before Tuesady’s deadline? Crazier things have happened.
WR Jerry Jeudy, Broncos
My one “buy” candidate in the league for New England, as I explained on Sunday night’s 6 Rings Postgame Show on WEEI, is wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
The kicker here is that a trade would not just be a 2023 rental, as Jeudy is under team control for 2024 as well. The wide receiver is due ~$13 million next season on his fifth-year option. Jeudy, a 5-foot-10 dynamic playmaker, already has a rapport with Mac Jones from their time together at Alabama and with Kendrick Bourne out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, would be able to help the offense chug along over the next 11 games.
Ultimately, if it doesn’t work out with Jones in New England and they decide to move on, then the team would still have a true, de facto No. 1 wide receiver option for their new signal caller to grow with next season. A win-win.
LT Garett Bolles, Broncos
Another Bronco that may be on the trade block is tackle Garett Bolles. Drafted by Denver in the first round of the 2017 draft, Boles signed a four-year, $60 million contract prior to the 2021 season. He was a second-team All-Pro left tackle in 2020.
Although he’s 31 years old and just suffered a broken leg last season, Bolles is still playing good football and, with Trent Brown now nursing both a knee and a ankle injury (while also in a contract year), the Patriots could be in the market for left tackle under team control in 2024.
To try and keep their quarterback upright down the stretch in 2023, as well as whoever is at the position in next season, a deal for a bonafide starting blindside tackle shouldn’t be out of the question.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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