NFL Trade Deadline: Who Could The Patriots Be Targeting?

(Buccaneers.com)

The NFL trade deadline is this week, and while the NFL isn’t known for its exciting trade deadline action, it is the last chance for players to swap teams before the playoffs. So with that in mind, here are some names you should expect to hear come up surrounding the Patriots leading up to Tuesday at 4 PM.

Jimmy Garoppolo

Jimmy’s name will mostly come up around sports talk radio raising the question of whether the Patriots should cash in on Jimmy G now since Brady isn’t showing any sign of slowing down. Regardless, don’t expect him to move before Tuesday. Integrating a QB mid season is extremely difficult, and any team trading for Jimmy should want an offseason of preparation before putting him out there, especially assuming they expect him to be their franchise quarterback going forward. Also, Brady has gone up to another level ever since they drafted Garoppolo to be the heir apparent in Foxborough. Trading him at this point would be foolish considering “Tom’s age and contract situation”

Justin Gilbert

Honestly, Gilbert doesn’t necessarily fit the mold of a Patriots cornerback. He’s gets by more on his athleticism than his cover skills. Nevertheless, the Browns have been a willing trade partner for the Patriots in the past, and the Patriots have shown they have no problem taking failed top picks of the Browns and fitting them into their system. Gilbert should be ripe for the picking, and after an extremely subpar performance from “Mr. Defensive Pass Interference”, Eric Rowe, the Patriots might want to bring in another body to try at right corner.

Willie Young

Although they already have Jabaal Sheard, Rob Ninkovich, and Chris Long, the Patriots might be interested in bringing in another edge rusher. The pass rush has just not been there for the Pats this season, and the Bears are another team that has had no problem doing deals with Belichick. Young’s base salary of $800,000 easily keeps the Patriots under the cap, and makes him all the more attractive to target. Chicago has had a nightmare of a season, and they might part ways with Young for a mid round pick if the Patriots are lucky.

Alterraun Verner or Jonathan Banks

The Bucs appear eager to unload one or both or what was at one point their starting pair on the outside, and taking a flyer on one of these two might be a move the Patriots have to risk making. If the Patriots are desperate to make a move at corner, Tampa would be more than willing to negotiate for either one of these two.

Jeremy Langford

There are really only a handful teams I’d expect the Patriots to make a trade with. The Lions, Bears, Buccaneers, or Browns. They have ties to all those places and have recent trade history with all of them as well. With the emergence of Jordan Howard the Bears may be already through with the Jeremy Langford era, and the Patriots could always use the bodies at running back. Langford’s versatility as a runner and a pass catcher out of the backfield is something the Patriots likely find attractive, and surprisingly, they don’t really have someone that can do both like Langford can.

Joe Thomas (sigh)

It’s a pipe dream, but the Patriots will probably be linked to Thomas at some point in the next 24-48 hours. It’s extremely unlikely considering the plethora of teams vying for the services of Joe Thomas who are likely to give up more than the Patriots would be willing to. Unless something unforeseen happens, Thomas will not be a Patriot. But we all can dream.