Absolutely wacky trades the Patriots should try to pull off
If the New England Patriots plan on going all-in for the 2023 season, they could try and pull off some super wacky trades to improve the team. At this point, I would not be surprised by any decision that Bill Belichick makes.
He’s got the reigns of this team and is likely not coaching for much longer. This offseason, he’s got tens of millions of dollars in cap space and his first and second round picks to use to improve the roster.
Besides making splash signings in free agency, Belichick and the Pats could try and pull off some super crazy trades for the 2023 season.
Absolutely wacky trades the Patriots should try to pull off
Patriots receive: Laremy Tunsil, Brandin Cooks, and Cameron Johnston
Texans receive: Patriots 2023 first and third round picks
How about this one? Both Laremy Tunsil and Brandin Cooks are aging veterans on chunky contracts, and with the Texans being headed towards a full rebuild, the team might want to get out of both deals and start fresh.
It’s almost certain that Cooks is dealt, who did play for the Patriots in 2017. Well, in this deal, Bill O’Brien gets to reunite with Tunsil, a talented left tackle, and Cooks. To add some spice to this deal, I also included Texans’ punter Cameron Johnston, who averaged 48.1 yards net per punt this year.
Patriots receive: Darren Waller
Raiders receive: Mac Jones
Why not? In this deal, it’s a player for player trade, which is not common in the NFL, but I did mention “wacky” trades. The Patriots do need some help at tight end, and this deal would force them to release one of Hunter Henry or Jonnu Smith, who have not exactly lived up to their contracts thus far.
The Raiders also get a potential long-term answer at QB in Mac Jones. You might ask yourself, what could the Patriots do at QB then? Well, why not make a push to reunite Waller with his old friend in Derek Carr?
The Pats do need another target on offense, and Waller provides that.
Patriots receive: Lamar Jackson
Ravens receive: 2023 and 2024 first round picks, 2023 and 2024 second round picks, Kendrick Bourne
I’m not sure if this will be enough to land Lamar Jackson, but one can only hope, right? I used the main structure of the Russell Wilson deal in the two first and two second round picks. You might ask yourself if a Jackson trade would require more picks, and it very well could.
However, with Jackson’s injury history and play style, I do wonder if the potential return for his services would not be as large as one could think. If this trade were to happen, the Patriots would burst to the top of the AFC and become contenders once again.