Joshua Uche trade is just the beginning for the Patriots ahead of deadline

Over the past few years, the Patriots have been one of the most prominent names to be sellers by the trade deadline, and that doesn't change this season. With a 2-6 record and a new regime calling the shots who prefer to build their team through the draft, they'll inevitably be making more moves ahead of the November 5 cutoff.

Plenty of names have circulated regarding who might be on the trade block, and it didn't take long for the Patriots to confirm at least one name was accurate. After being a healthy scratch against the Jets on Sunday, linebacker Joshua Uche was traded to the Chiefs for a 2026 sixth-round pick.

He had been involved in trade talks over the past two seasons, with Bill Belichick getting close to pulling the trigger on moving him last year. However, after another disappointing performance this year, the team knew it was time to move him now.

Other players have been rumored to be garnering interest from teams and as the frontrunners for New England to trade, which might be happening sooner rather than later, according to the latest intel from NFL insiders Albert Breer and Mike Giardi.

Expect the Patriots to ship off more veterans ahead of the 2024 trade deadline

While speaking to NBC Sports Boston over the weekend, Breer let it be known that the Patriots are "open for business" and will listen to all offers for any players. He went into further detail regarding who might be the most likely to be traded, which isn't at all surprising given the way the new regime likes to build their rosters.

"They're open for business and they'll listen on anything. I think the ones you want to look at are players who might be on second contracts and deeper into their careers where it's a little hard to see those guys being major pieces of the puzzle two or three years down the line when the program is where they would hope it would be."

When it comes to specific players, Breer suggested receivers Kendrick Bourne or K.J. Osborn could be on the move, mainly because the roster currently has an abundance of young talent at the position. But given how Osborn hasn't been as solid as they hoped for,, and given his hinted desire to be traded, it wouldn't be surprising if the former Viking is the one they ship off.

Giardi reiterated Breer's point on Monday after Uche's trade and claimed a source believes the Patriots will move on from a couple more veterans ahead of the deadline next week.

There is a lengthy list of who those players could be, with the most discussed candidates being, besides the receivers, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux or cornerback Jonathan Jones.

While either would make sense given their ages, both have been solid contributors this season and would be a massive loss to the defense moving forward. Receiving draft picks in return would be great for building the roster for the future, but the defense would immediately suffer in their absence, which doesn't seem to be the most sensical.

Additionally, receiving lower picks in return doesn't seem worth it. Piling up sixth-rounders won't move the needle much in their desire to build a younger and dominant roster, but don't be surprised if that's all it takes for the Patriots to move more players.

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