Patriots smartly trade Jon Bostic for draft pick
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the New England Patriots have shipped veteran linebacker Jon Bostic to the Detroit Lions for another pick in next year’s draft.
Source: the Patriots have traded LB Jon Bostic to the Lions for a conditional 7th round pick in 2017.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 9, 2016
This was a smart move on the part of the Patriots because it infuses a much-needed selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. Yes, it’s a seventh round pick, but Bostic’s days in New England were looking numbered anyway.
Evaluating roster chances of every Patriots draft pick
Last week, Bostic was one of the 12 veterans we listed as being in greater danger after the draft. Here’s what we said:
“Bostic may be the most affected out of this group of linebackers because he doesn’t bring much in the way of special teams value whatsoever. He had better show the Patriots that he can be a great depth linebacker, or else he will be out of New England before the end of the summer.
Correction: before May turned into double digits. The selections of Kamu Grugier-Hill and Elandon Roberts after the signings of veterans Ramon Humber and Tony Steward complicated the situation for Bostic. When undrafted free agent C.J. Johnson joined the team, it made it even harder to imagine Bostic sticking around.
In-depth: Patriots draft review and grades
This is also a smart move because. the cost of trading for Bostic last September was a sixth round pick. Earning a youthful veteran, getting 11 games out of him and then dealing for a seventh round pick isn’t such a bad return on investment.
One thing to note: the Lions are popping up as a heavily Patriots-influenced team under GM Bob Quinn.
First trade between Bill Belichick and former Patriots director of pro personnel Bob Quinn, now GM of the Lions.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 9, 2016
Remember, one of Quinn’s first moves with the Lions was signing former Pats defensive back Tavon Wilson.
Between the trades for Bostic last season and Shea McClellin and Martellus Bennett this season, and now this trade involving the Lions, it’s clear that a pattern of transactions relations is developing between the Patriots and the NFC North.
Next: AFC Power Rankings: Pats top post-draft edition
Check back tomorrow morning for the ripple effects of this trade.