A notable NFL insider believes the New England Patriots should seriously consider being sellers at the NFL trade deadline and begin looking ahead to 2024.
Heading into the 2023 NFL season, there was hope that the New England Patriots could have a big bounce-back season after a disappointing showing a year ago. They were expected to have a strong defense, made a few savvy signings in the offseason, and brought in a proven offensive coordinator to fix the issues that plagued Mac Jones and the offense last season.
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Unfortunately, none of it has worked. The team heads into their Week 6 game against the Las Vegas Raiders with a 1-4 record, an offense that almost seems worse than it was in 2022, and injuries have debilitated their defense. It is why Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer made the case on Thursday for the Pats to start preparing for 2024 instead of finishing strong this year.
“I think the focus of this season has changed,” Breer said. “The focus of the season right now should be to figure out your roster, figure out your future. Because they’re clearly not good enough. The team’s going nowhere. They could wind up finishing last in the division. The Jets look like a better team than they are right now.
“And I think right now, it’s about assessing where you are as a franchise,” he continued. “That means getting as clear an answer on who your quarterback is so you can make a final decision on whether you’re going forward with him after the year, and picking up that fifth-year option is going to be a very big deal when we get to April and May. And so, you have to do everything you can to try to get Mac Jones going.”
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If the New England Patriots decided to make the stunning decision to wave the white flag on the 2023 season and become a seller to get draft assets for a rebuild in 2024, here are four worthwhile players that could be targeted by other teams before the Oct. 31 trade deadline.
4 players the New England Patriots could ship out of town before trade deadline
Ezekiel Elliott
One player the Patriots definitely don’t need but might garner some solid interest on the trade block is running back Ezekiel Elliott. It would not be at all shocking if, due to their struggles on offense this season without him, the Dallas Cowboys were willing to give up a solid later-round pick for their former star.
Trenton Brown
One-time Pro Bowler Trenton Brown could be a player the Pats use to land some future draft capital. The nine-year veteran plays at a premium position and a team that has suffered a major injury to a star tackle — like the Miami Dolphins — could offer a worthwhile pick if they feel someone like Brown could sure of their O-line for a title run.
DeVante Parker
Wide receiver DeVante Parker has come nowhere close to returning to the player who racked up over 1,000 yards in 2019. With him not being a top target again in his second year with the team, the Patriots might be able to flip him for a late-round selection from a team that needs depth in their receiving corps. and feel the nine-year veteran can help in the second half of the season.
Myles Bryant
Having reliable cornerbacks is important for any team hoping to make a deep playoff run. Myles Bryant is a player several teams would covet. If New England is not sure they want to invest big money in him in the offseason, they might be able to land a pick in the mid-rounds from a desperate team badly in need of help in the secondary for the stretch run.
