Patriots were reportedly close to trading for this receiver

The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and usually, the day is relatively anti-climactic. But several teams made big trades to improve their team this season and in the future.

There was a lot of hope the Patriots would make some moves before their opportunity closed, particularly with the offensive line. However, Bill Belichick choosing not to participate in the day’s activities was not surprising.

As the Patriots currently sit, they have little money to spend if acquiring a new player. They are said to have over $50 million in cap space next season, providing another massive opportunity to recreate their spending spree of the 2020 offseason. Plus, several teams across the league need offensive line improvement. It’s unlikely there were many options for Belichick to trade with or trade for to get better protection for Mac Jones this season.

Because there was such a demand for the team to make something happen, Belichick was asked this week how close they were to getting a trade done before the deadline.

"“I don’t even know what close means. What does that mean? I’ve had conversations that have gone on for months and nothing happened. I’ve had conversations that had gone on for 6-10 minutes and a trade gets done.”"

Although it seems the Patriots weren’t active in any trade talks on Monday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk shared that they had dabbled in a potential acquisition up until the deadline hit.

With so many rumors circulating that the Patriots could trade receivers Nelson Agholor or Kendrick Bourne, Belichick’s rumored interest in making a move for former Steelers’ receiver Chase Claypool makes a lot of sense. Florio claims the conversations between the two teams lasted “until the very end,” but ultimately, Claypool was traded to the Chicago Bears.

"“I don’t want to go too far down the rabbit hole of how the sausage gets made … how people get their information. I think based upon the way this all fell together yesterday … I think the Patriots were in it up until the end, I do. I have reason to believe that the Patriots were in it up until the very end.”"

At first glance, the idea of Belichick looking to trade for Chase Claypool may seem out of nowhere. But before the Patriots’ matchup with the Steelers earlier this year, Belichick had a lot of positive thoughts to share on how the receiver has performed since entering the league in 2020.

It’s interesting to consider the Patriots bringing in another receiver, given that they currently carry six on their 53-man roster. It doesn’t appear to be a position of need, but when the opportunity strikes in the NFL, it’s been said you should take it. And it looks like that’s what Belichick tried to do.