When it rains, it pours for the New England Patriots. They managed to escape with a big divisional win after a slow start against the Miami Dolphins, but once again, Mike Vrabel's team was even more undermanned when the clock hit zero.
Hunter Henry left the game with a foot injury, and he returned to the locker room after trying to shake it off on the sidelines. Although he could walk on his own, being ruled out with so much time left to play was concerning.
Given that rookie Eli Raridon might not be ready to take on a big role at this point in his career, the Patriots should call the Philadelphia Eagles to inquire about Dallas Goedert.
Dallas Goedert is a no-brainer trade target for the New England Patriots
Barring a shocking turn of events, the Eagles won't make the playoffs this season. As bad as the NFC East has been, their offense has been dreadful, the team is pretty banged up, and they've already lost crucial players to trades and injuries.
Goedert is on an expiring deal, so he should be easy to fit into the Patriots' books for the remainder of the season. And while he's not a superstar by any means, he's a proven veteran and a bona fide pass catcher.
Just last season, the veteran tight end proved he can be a reliable, consistent threat in the end zone, hauling in a career-best 11 touchdown receptions. That bodes well for Drake Maye, especially with the Patriots' undermanned pass-catching corps.
The Patriots could use another veteran upfront. Goedert can block like the best of them, and he's someone who knows, understands, and embraces his role at this point in his career, not to mention yet another veteran to coach up Raridon.
The roster is as thin as it gets, and this string of injuries has certainly tested the depth. They've done a great job licking their wounds, getting back on their feet, and letting the next man up take over, but this could come back to haunt them down the road.
The November 10 trade deadline looms large. The Patriots might not need a huge splash, but they can't afford to say put with so many soldiers falling with injuries. Goedert should be available at a reasonable price, and he should be near the top of the wish list, even if Henry's injury isn't long-term.
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