Ranking best possible Patriots pre-draft trade options
The New England Patriots are relatively draft-poor, currently holding only eight picks in the 2022 NFL draft, but several trades may be available to add more picks. There are many underperforming players on their current roster who may be of interest to other teams and could return a pick.
Trading underperforming players is not usually a great way to accumulate substantial draft capital. In this case, however, the Patriots might be better off cutting ties with certain players and amassing whatever draft capital they can to add to a roster that needs additions in any of a number of positions.
As the draft rapidly approaches on April 28, here are some players who might fetch a pick in trade either before or during the draft.
Patriots’ best trade possibility before or during the draft
The New England Patriots have only three premium picks, one in each of the first three rounds. That’s not nearly enough to make a dent in their most prominent area of need, improving a defense that started strong and then fell apart late in 2021.
That’s why a different strategy makes better sense. That would be to totally shore up the offense, make it essentially whole, and then turn to the defense. The two most important needs on offense are offensive tackle and a No. 1 wide receiver. So who might be traded to accumulate more picks, keeping in mind that most would likely be lower-round picks at that?
First on this list would be their solid but unspectacular NFL starting tackle, Isaiah Wynn. Wynn is in the last year of his rookie deal. The Patriots have picked up his fifth-year option for $10M, a questionable move at best. Wynn is a decent left tackle, but he’ll never be a great one because of his size. He just doesn’t have the requisite length to do that job out on the island.
Wynn could play right tackle or — even better — guard, but the Patriots have never tried either, for whatever reason. They need to make a decision on Wynn. Wynn might fetch a fourth-round pick for a team with cap space that needs a starting tackle. If you can get a fourth-rounder for Wynn, take the pick and run. Trent Brown is your ready-made starting left tackle. The starting right would be Michael Onwenu or a draft pick.