Chandler Jones to be traded for first round pick?

Will Patriots trade Chandler Jones to get first-round pick?

Nov 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones (95) reacts to his interception in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

On Comcast SportsNet’s “Sports Tonight” segment Thursday evening, Michael Felger and Tom E. Curran debated how the Patriots might corral a first round pick if they can’t do so through the court system. Felger presented an interesting thought: might the Patriots trade Chandler Jones for a team’s first round pick?

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First off, some of you may be wondering why Jones would be the trading chip. Looking ahead to next offseason, the Patriots’ “core four” of Jones, Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins and Malcolm Butler will be hitting free agency all at the same time. Realistically, the Pats won’t be able to retain all those guys if they don’t do some leg work ahead of time.

Hightower and Collins are both supremely special talents at inside linebacker. The Patriots must make sure they lock-up both of those fixtures for the long-term (possibly even giving them the same contract).

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As for Butler, he’s a sure-fire No. 1 corner considering his Super Bowl XLIX heroism and well-deserved Pro Bowl nod in 2015. If you have a true No. 1 corner, you must hang on to him.

With all the pass rushing talent coming out of the college ranks these days, Jones is the most expendable member of the “core four”. As talented as Jones is, the one knock on him is he’s a bit streaky. Jones can rack up a hat trick of sacks one week, then slump for the next two or three. Plus, the Patriots have rising talent at the position (Geneo Grissom, Trey Flowers) in addition to trusty veterans Rob Ninkovich and Jabaal Sheard.

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If the Patriots don’t receive their first round pick back from the Deflategate chaos, then they may do some scheming to get back at the league, as Felger mentioned in the “Sports Tonight” piece. One way that could play out is the dealing of Jones to free-up room for the Pats to re-sign Hightower, Collins and Butler in 2017, while at the same time having the luxury of drafting a stud in the first round.

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It’s food for thought. What do you think?

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