How big of sellers will the New England Patriots be by the October 31 trade deadline?
That’s the big question with the 2023 season likely dead in the water for the team. They have a 1-5 record with their next two games against the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins.
By the time Week 9 rolls around, the Patriots will probably already be checkmated into submission.
Help isn’t coming to save New England. So their best hope now is trading players for draft assets. It’s important to note that every player is expendable for the right price, including quarterback Mac Jones. It makes more sense for the Patriots to keep him on the roster, however, unless they get a good enough offer.
Let’s take a look at six Patriots players that are likely trade candidates for the team.
LB Josh Uche
Josh Uche has undeniable talent as a pure pass-rusher, but he hasn’t consistently put the pieces together enough to be a full-time player on defense for the Patriots.
He has shown vulnerabilities defending against the run on early downs, and the Patriots aren’t exactly in a position to keep him around as a luxury option with limited snaps, when they could potentially move him for a third or fourth-round draft pick.
They should seriously consider cutting their losses with the former second-round draft pick and salvaging whatever they can get in return.
S Jalen Mills
Jalen Mills recently tweeted out frustrations with his low snap count on the Patriots defense. Those frustrations are understandable considering he has played well when on the field.
But then again, the Patriots have a bunch of veteran talent at safety, and they’re getting healthy enough at cornerback where they don’t need Mills switching positions, again.
Perhaps it’s time for a fresh start elsewhere with a team that could really use his services. It’s clear that Mills still has plenty of gas left in the tank to be an asset on another roster.
RB Ezekiel Elliott
Ezekiel Elliott has stepped in and made an impact right away on the Patriots’ roster. Granted, it isn’t the sort of impact fans expected, but that’s much to do about the struggles on the offensive line than Elliott’s abilities as a running back.
He’s a versatile playmaker on the field that could help a team in both the rushing and receiving departments. The Patriots are in a unique position with Rhamondre Stevenson under contract for another year. Perhaps some other running back-needy team out there has seen enough out of Elliott to pounce on a potential trade.
He was likely always going to be a one-year rental for the Patriots from the very beginning. By trading him, they’d just be expediting the process.
WR Kendrick Bourne
In another world, the Patriots would have been able to make it work with Kendrick Bourne. He has speed and the in and out flexibility most offenses covet at the wide receiver position.
His potential working as a No. 2 or No. 3 target in an offense with a true No. 1 taking up most of the defensive attention would be a surefire path to success.
Even during the train wreck 2022 season, Bourne quietly kept his head down and went to work instead of publicly bashing the team for not utilizing him in the right ways. He would have been well within in his right to do so, too. It just shows how great of a teammate he is on and off the field.
To think, the most Patriot-like player might no longer have a place on the roster is a huge disappointment.
G Mike Onwenu
Mike Onwenu was believed to be one of the best offensive guards in football last season, but there has been a shocking drop-off in the 2023 season. In a contract year, the former sixth-round draft pick went from a 79.3 overall offensive grade in 2022 to a pitiful 46.1 grade, per Pro Football Focus.
Keep in mind, he’s coming off an ankle injury that required surgery in the offseason, and that could be hampering his ability to perform up to the level he was at last year.
Onwenu is currently on an expiring contract, and unless the Patriots are all in on extending him long-term, they need to try to move him for other assets now. They might have already shown their hand with their decision to go guard-heavy in the 2023 NFL draft.
TE Mike Gesicki
The only reason why Hunter Henry isn’t on this list is because removing him at this point would only add to the team’s implosion. He’s a captain and locker room leader with the ability to catch passes and block effectively.
Mike Gesicki is more of a one-trick pony as a tight end. He’s more of a receiver on the football field and somewhat of a liability when asked to block, as we saw in the Patriots’ recent loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
MAXX CROSBY SAFETY 🙏
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On the right roster, Gesicki could be a solid addition as basically a receiver in a tight end’s body. He’s a playmaker that could make a real difference on the field.
