[brid video=”667779″ player=”23231″ title=”NFL%20Week%207%20Five%20worst%20quarterback%20performances” duration=”79″ description=”Week 7 of the NFL season delivered another great Sunday for many quarterbacks, but not every signal-caller delivered. As we saw with some of the worst quarterback performances in Week 7, success doesn’t come easy and that’s a familiar story for some young quarterbacks.It’s one thing just to have a bad week, that happens. We weren’t concerned about Aaron Rodgers after his Week 6 dud and the same can be said for at least one passer this Sunday. On the other hand, some performances are impossible to ignore and force the panic alarm to go off. Quite frankly, it should leave a few teams questioning their future at quarterback.” uploaddate=”2020-10-26 18:17:29″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/667779_t_1603736268.png” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/667779.mp4″]
The New England Patriots find themselves at 2-4 on the season, their worst mark since all the way back in 2000. This comes following an humiliating 33-6 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers. It’s led to trade rumors on the Patriots’ front ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 3.
Some of these Patriots-related rumors have included them adding a receiver to help struggling quarterback Cam Newton. But at 2-4 and set to face the first-place Buffalo Bills in Week 8, is it already too late for the Patriots?
It’s in this that we look at three moves the Patriots should make ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
Related: If you’re a fan of the Patriots, check out #GoPats rumors, rankings, and news here.
Patriots trade rumors: Moves the team should make ahead of NFL trade deadline
Instead of adding talent to their shaky roster, we are going to go in a different direction here. Rumors linking the Patriots to trade scenarios ahead of the NFL deadline should simply include them sending players out while adding draft pick compensation. That’s what we’re going to focus on here.
Patriots trade Julian Edelman
“Well, we got to figure it out. We got to figure it out. Our Wi-Fi is definitely off. And it’s frustrating because knowing the person Julian is and knowing the body of work that he puts in each and every week and day and from preparation to biometrically with his body, you fall in love with a person like that. And with me, I just want to win. I just want to find a way to win. And here of late, that hasn’t been the case.”
Those were the words of one Cam Newton following the Patriots’ brutal Week 7 loss to San Francisco. It’s clear that the former NFL MVP is not on the same page with Edelman. In two games since returning from COVID-19, Newton has completed 3-of-9 passes to Edelman for 21 yards.
As for the three-time Super Bowl champion, Edelman actually leads the NFL in drops since the start of last season. That has led to rumors that he could potentially be moved. The Patriots likely won’t get much more than a mid-round pick in a potential Edelman trade. However, it’s time for the team to move on from him. If so, rumors will persist about contending teams showing interest.
Related: NFL trade rumors
Patriots trade Joe Thuney
Playing under the $14.78 million franchise tag in 2020, rumors came to light during the offseason that the Patriots might look to trade Thuney rather than pay him that sum. A minor low-ankle sprain the All-Pro guard suffered in Week 7’s loss could impacts rumors on this front.
Either way, opting to trade Thuney seemingly makes the most sense for the Patriots. They are not going to want to pay him top-end guard money over the long term. Bill Belichick and Co. rarely do that when it comes to their offensive line.
Thuney, 27, would draw a ton of interest on the trade market. He’s among the best guards in the NFL and continues to play at an extremely high level. Not to start any rumors here, but a team like the Green Bay Packers could make some sense. They’ve been involved in rumors as a potential buyer at the trade deadline. Upgrading at guard for MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers could be in the cards.
Patriots trade Stephon Gilmore
It was somewhat surprising to hear trade rumors surrounding Gilmore during the offseason. He earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors last season and has been the single-best cover corner in the NFL since joining the Patriots as a free agent back in 2017.
Recent rumors linking Gilmore to a trade might be more financial than anything else. He’s 30 years old and is set to count $17.17 million against the cap in 2021, the final year of Gilmore’s deal.
Equally as important, moving Gilmore would enable the Patriots to add a nice amount of draft capital to the mix. He’d likely bring in either a late first-round pick or a second rounder and more change in a deal ahead of the NFL trade deadline. Expect rumors to pick up on this front over the next week.
Bottom line: Patriots trade rumors will be interesting over the next week
Could New England look to add to its talent-stricken core group in order to make a run moving forward this season? It’s possible. After all, the Patriots have been involved in rumors surrounding wide receivers.
Even then, Belichick is a smart man. He saw what everyone else witnessed first-hand against the 49ers in Week 7. These Patriots are going nowhere fast. It will lead to further rumors about a potential Patriots sell off ahead of the NFL trade deadline next week. That’s for sure.