The New England Patriots have spent the last 20-plus years largely being conservative, but now facing another offseason without Tom Brady and a desperate need to get back into contention, perhaps some serious aggression is needed to right the ship.
And what do you know! The latest reports suggest the Seattle Seahawks could be trading Russell Wilson in the near future.
Are you awake, Bill Belichick? Cough up the draft picks!
You can build around this guy in a heartbeat and attempt to leapfrog the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins in 2021. There’s just that little…no-trade clause thing to navigate.
Let’s face it. Belichick won’t be coaching forever and those two division rivals are built for the next five or so years, assuming Josh Allen re-ups with Buffalo and the Dolphins figure out their QB situation. What does that mean? The Pats can’t be waiting for a prospect in the draft to turn around the offense.
They need an immediate impact player who will benefit from the team’s rushing attack and stingy defense. Though there were a lot of issues in 2020, the Patriots are about to get a lot of players back from their opt outs and they possess a ton of cap space to make multiple ground-breaking moves in free agency.
But perhaps their first such transaction should come in the trade market in the form of a Russell Wilson acquisition.
Here are three trade scenarios that could land the Patriots Russell Wilson from the Seahawks.
3. Patriots send three first-round picks to Seahawks for Wilson
Let’s start off with the easiest one. According to reports, the starting asking price is three first-round picks. It’s hard to see that going much higher since Seattle doesn’t have a ton of leverage, with Wilson reportedly wanting out coupled with the fact he’s one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league.
The Patriots covet their draft picks like no other franchise, but they haven’t unequivocally hit on a first-round draft pick since … 2012! That is almost NINE years ago. Belichick does his best work in EVERY other round, so what’s the harm in parting ways with three picks that will be No. 15 or worse from 2021-2023?
Assuming the franchise continues to scout talent in a superior manner from rounds 2-7, this really wouldn’t hurt the Pats at all, and it’d give them an immediate game-changer in Wilson, who would make this offense more dynamic than any fan could imagine. New England’s top rushing attack would not only open up lanes for Wilson to run himself, but it’d help him move the ball down field more, which is something Josh McDaniels loves to do if given the opportunity.
After that, all Belichick has to do is add a bonafide No. 1 receiver. Think Allen Robinson would say yes to the Pats if Wilson is under center?
2. Patriots send JC Jackson and their 2022, 2023 first-round picks to Seahawks for Wilson
OK, before you freak out, here’s the new game plan for the Patriots. Give Seattle JC Jackson and your next two first-round picks after 2021 — so Belichick would keep No. 15 for this year — and then sign Stephon Gilmore to a lucrative two-year extension. Now there’s no reason to move on from Gilmore because you just fortified your short-term window.
Gilmore’s been the subject of trade talks for quite some time now — actually, ever since Brady left — because it made no sense for the Patriots to deal with a contract dispute with one of their best defensive players if he doesn’t figure to be part of their future AND if they’re not contending within the next few years.
Well, bring Wilson to town, and you’re immediately contending. Keep Gilmore as your lockdown cornerback, give Jonathan Jones an expanded role, and elevate Myles Bryant (after all, Pats fans liked what they saw from him in 2020).
Jackson would be a significant loss, but you have to give to get in a trade for Wilson, and this could very well set the Patriots apart from other suitors in the conversation. On top of that, Jackson is going to cost a fairly hefty amount as a restricted free agent, so put that burden on Seattle and keep the short-term window open with Gilmore and some other veteran additions.
Then, use the No. 15 pick to address the O-line, secondary, and tight end/wide receiver positions. Immediate upgrade in more ways than one.
1. Patriots send Joe Thuney, Shaq Mason, 2021 first-round pick and 2022 second-round pick to Seahawks
Another way the Patriots can separate themselves from the pack? Offer the Seahawks what they need most: offensive linemen. That’s been the biggest problem ever since Wilson’s been in Seattle, especially in recent years.
However, it’d be contingent on Joe Thuney being slapped with the franchise tag under the assumption he’d sign a long-term deal with the Seahawks.
So here, the Patriots would take an immediate short-term hit with the ability to address everything else in free agency or the draft. Here, the Seahawks immediately upgrade their line with Thuney and Shaq Mason (who is under contract through 2023), get another first-rounder in the deep 2021 draft, and acquire a second-rounder for 2022.
Thuney is one of the most versatile and durable offensive linemen in the entire NFL and would be worth every penny if he signs a hypothetical gigantic extension. As for Mason, he’s a rock solid right guard who’s fairly durable himself and signed to a team-friendly deal. So how can the Patriots cope with these losses?
Let’s face it — they weren’t signing Thuney to a huge deal anyway, so we can count him out. In that case, they can bring back David Andrews to start at center, slot in Michael Onwenu at Mason’s right guard position, and could maybe get lucky if Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater falls to the second round. Either that, or they can use some cap space to splurge on a guy like Brandon Scherff. Who knows!
There are a lot of possibilities here, but we don’t doubt that one of these offers could persuade Seattle, especially if they have a succession plan in mind once Wilson departs.
Patriots: Russell Wilson reported trade price shouldn’t scare Bill Belichick
A potential trade for Russell Wilson would cost the Patriots a haul, but there's no reason his price should scare them away.