Patriots: 3 blockbuster midseason trades Pats can pull off in 2020

Here are three midseason blockbuster trades the Patriots should look to pull off.

While the New England Patriots didn’t endure much resistance from the Miami Dolphins to open the season, the glaring flaws of the roster were on full display against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 on Sunday night.

We’re feeling a lot better about the wide receiving corps following that game, but the unit is still extremely banged up, as starters Julian Edelman and N’Keal Harry are both battling injury. In an ideal world, the two players would be on limited snaps, but the Patriots simply don’t have depth at the WR position to offer them that luxury.

Elsewhere, the front seven is feeling the effects of multiple offseason departures and player opt-outs, as it’s mustered hardly any pass rush in the opening two games, tallying a measly three sacks. Their lack of product has expectedly had a negative impact on the secondary, which allowed Russell Wilson to throw for 288 yards and five touchdowns in the 35-30 loss.

Though we aren’t thrilled with the running game, we’d like to see what it looks like when 2019 third-round pick Damien Harris, who was turning heads during training camp, is activated off injured reserve. With Cam Newton leading the way, the Patriots can get by with their current assortment of running backs, so that position isn’t a damning need at the moment.

With all of this in mind, let’s highlight a few blockbuster trades that de facto GM Bill Belichick can pull off to bolster these gaping holes on the roster before the deadline.

3. 2021 Third-Round Pick for Curtis Samuel

WR Curtis Samuel isn’t a focal point of the Panthers offense anymore.

Acquiring Curtis Samuel from Carolina might not be viewed as a “blockbuster” trade by most fans, but he would undoubtedly add a (needed) game-breaking element to the Patriots’ largely one-dimensional offense.

As evident as Harry’s potential is, he hasn’t proven he can stay healthy. If he ever went down with injury, the Patriots would be forced to rely on genuine unknown commodities to line up opposite Edelman, who is the clear No. 1 option. Even if Harry stays upright for the entire season, it wouldn’t hurt to add another dynamic pass catcher.

After all, the best offenses in the NFL have three dependable receivers at their disposal. Enter Samuel, who’s slowly being phased out of the Panthers’ passing attack. The 2017 second-round pick is coming off a career year in which he totaled 54 receptions for 627 receptions and 6 touchdowns.

However, Samuel was bumped down to the undisputed fourth priority of Teddy Bridgewater this offseason following the signing of Robby Anderson, who’s had back-to-back 100-yard games to open his tenure in Carolina. Because of that, the Ohio State product’s trade value has likely dropped, and the Patriots should be able to swoop in and snatch him up for nothing more than a third-round pick in 2021 Draft.