With the 2024 NFL trade deadline nearing on November 5, there are plenty of proposed trades involving the New England Patriots. Because they're a losing team amid a rebuild, it's fair to assume the new regime will want to pile up the draft picks to add as much new talent to the roster as possible.
Although they might not have many players considered stars, a few continue to be the subject of hypothetical trades, one of the leading names being Kendrick Bourne.
The wide receiver had been involved in those conversations throughout the offseason, too, despite the Patriots offering a contract extension in free agency. He was also involved in the trade talks for Brandon Aiyuk, as the team was allegedly willing to send Bourne back to the 49ers for the 26-year-old star receiver.
But they might finally be recognizing how important he is to the team, even if he hasn't been super productive since his return from injury.
Kendrick Bourne's recent comments might save him from being traded by the Patriots
Besides knowing what he can do on the field when at full strength, some of the best parts of having Bourne on the Patriots roster is his infectious positive attitude and his leadership on and off the field.
Those traits are even more crucial this season, as they undergo a massive rebuild and the growing pains that come along with it.
Recognizing the team is in a challenging position heading into Week 8 with plenty of players airing their frustrations online and to the media, Bourne revealed there was a team meeting on Thursday morning and shared what efforts he's making to be a supportive and motivating force to the younger players around him.
WR Kendrick Bourne answered questions from reporters today and one theme: Helping young WRs who came into the league in the NIL era understand how a team-first mentality lifts everyone.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 24, 2024
“We have to keep helping young guys become who they truly want to be — they just can’t see… pic.twitter.com/iuYDKFCAi7
It was an impressive moment for Bourne and might have (literally) saved his job with the team this season.
That type of attitude is exactly what they need right now, especially amongst the wide receivers who continue to share their frustrations, and Bourne could play a critical role in the shift that needs to happen behind the scenes for the rest of the season. He understands what it's like to be in an unfavorable position on this team but remains positive, so this couldn't have come at a better time.
Hopefully, his teammates will hear the message and be able to get on the same page moving forward. Otherwise, this season might be in an even worse spot than we thought.