Over the last few years, some unthinkable trades have been made across the NFL of players who were believed to be untouchable with their current team. Whether it was due to being with the franchise for most of their careers or their performance being far too good for any reasonable team to legitimately consider moving on from them, these trades rocked the league, and there are more projected to come.
The Patriots continue to be among the teams most likely to be involved in some blockbuster moves, which seemed to be what they would have to do for a wide receiver before signing Stefon Diggs. However, most of the players they have been connected to in recent weeks have been on defense, and with Mike Vrabel in charge, it seems more possible than ever that a deal could be reached with one of them.
That is why New England are considered a suitor for Bengals' dominant pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, as they continue to stall in offering the sack leader an extension beyond the 2025 season.
But since that appears to be going nowhere with the belief being he will remain in Cincinnati, a new pass rushing star has entered the fold after a social media post seemed to imply there is trouble in paradise in Pittsburgh, which could be to the benefit of the Patriots.
T.J. Watt's uncertian future with the Steelers has the Patriots as the leading contender to acquire him via trade
Unsurprisingly, a presumed goodbye post by former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt would create such a stir online, especially since the Steelers hope to enter a new era with a fresh quarterback room and a motivated team.
Watt's controversial post has many debating what the future might hold for the 7-time Pro Bowler and if he will inevitably play for a new team in 2025. If that's the case, current odds have the Patriots as his likeliest new team, which would be quite a trade for Vrabel to pull off so early in his Patriots tenure.
They currently sit with the league-high remaining cap space ahead of the draft, with a projected $68 million left to spend this offseason, so they could easily accommodate trading for Watt and offering him an extension. He would immediately make the Patriots defense a legitimate threat, alongside Milton Williams and the hopeful rise of Keion White on the defensive line.
The main hurdle would be what it would take for a deal to get done. Considering how talented Watt is, it would likely cost the Patriots multiple first-round picks, including this year's No. 4 selection. This might not be a terrible idea since they have long been connected to Penn State's Abdul Carter. He will likely be off the board when they're on the clock, though.
However, agreeing to send a 2026 first when there is a good chance it could be another top-5 or top-10 selection is a bit risky. The new regime would have to seriously consider whether it would be worth the potential reward of what a 30-year-old Watt could bring to the team.
Given his incredible career, which includes 462 combined tackles, 126 tackles for a loss, 225 quarterback hits, seven interceptions returned for 48 yards, 49 passes defended, 33 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries with one for a touchdown and 108 sacks, it's difficult to suggest he wouldn't bring that production to Foxboro.
But because the Patriots are hoping to rebuild their roster and have made it clear they'd like to bring in younger guys and players who want to be there, there's a good chance Watt might not be on Vrabel and Co.'s radar, especially for the price.
If he becomes available, there's no reason for the Patriots not to inquire, of course. But determining the worthiness of the kind of trade it would take to acquire a player like Watt will need to be heavily considered, no matter how incredible he would be for the defense.