It’s a new dawn and season in Foxborough with super-hire, Mike Vrabel and a mostly new coaching staff. The 2023 and 2024 versions of the Patriots were abysmal. A combined 7- 27 record isn't going to satisfy the voracious Patriot Faithful.
Mike Vrabel and Ryan Cowden are ruling the personnel roost, and the former team, led by Eliot Wolf, will take a back seat, as it should. There is a lot to do this offseason, the most critical for the team since, well, last offseason!
Vrabel needs a major restructuring of his roster. The wheels have completely fallen off the once-feared and formidable Patriots' wagon. Since the team's "braintrust" confoundingly jettisoned Tom Brady after the 2019 season, it’s been all downhill since.
Here, we center on four starting players who can be traded for draft picks to help completely revitalize this lackluster roster. Some may not be popular, but it’s what it is: a time to clean house. Hopefully, Vrabel will do just that.
2 offensive starters can be traded for top draft picks
If you're trading a starting-level player for a draft pick, you'd better get back a premium or near-premium pick (third or fourth-rounder) in return, or no dice. The first on the list is a surprise since he’s the team’s best running back, Rhamondre Stevenson. This will raise eyebrows, if not the hackles of many in Patriot Nation. Regardless, it makes sense.
Stevenson is a player with value. Like the other three on the list, he signed an extension last off-season, yet his performance wasn't up to snuff. Stevenson, a favorite here since before he was drafted in 2021, had injury issues. He's only broken the 1000-yard mark once in his four-year stint in Foxborough. That's OK, but nothing to write home about in a 17-game season.
Additionally, he suffers from "fumble-itis," having dropped the rock seven times in 15 games last season. That won't work on a team that has to stress ball security or suffer the consequences. That's why Stevenson can go. The big back is only 26 and should fetch a third-round pick or no-go.
Next on the list is a starting guard or tackle, Mike Onwenu. Like Stevenson, Onwenu signed a sizeable extension in the 2024 offseason. He then proceeded to check into camp at a guesstimated 400 pounds. That's not exactly the dedication the team had a right to expect. Since he's only 27 years old and has been a reliable starter at guard and tackle, he warrants a third-round pick, as well, or no deal.
2 defensive starters who can be wheeled for draft picks
Two starters on defense can also be wheeled for draft picks. First is safety, Kyle Dugger. It's recently been floated that he played injured for much of last season. Regardless, he, like Stevenson and Onwenu, signed a huge and inflated extension in the 2024 offseason. He didn't justify it on the field.
The soon-to-be 29-year-old Dugger only played in 13 games and hasn't had an interception in two seasons. Make him available in trade. Again, Dugger should fetch a three, but if a relatively higher fourth is put on the table, take it.
The final starter, who is a solid trade candidate, is Davon Godchaux. This one is a long shot, at best. Godchaux was signed to a head-scratching extension last offseason in a panic move by Wolf after Christian Barmore had health issues. His cap hit is an egregious $8.3 million with a dead cap hit of a whopping $10.6M. He can't realistically be released, so a trade is the only way out.
This isn't likely happening with his salary. It would be great if anyone offered a fifth-rounder, but the Pats should even take a sixth if they can get out from under that cap hit. In four years in New England, Godchaux has only 2.5 sacks. Last season, he had 67 total stops but only one tackle for loss, a pass defended, and one QB hit. It's not good enough.
Those are four-starters whom the Patriots can trade for draft capital if the return warrants it. Stevenson and Onwenu would be the most difficult to lose, but if you can get third-round picks, you go for it. This is a top running back draft, and adequate replacements can be made. Onwenu is a good offensive lineman, but guards are commodities, and good scouting can get you a Ted Karras-type later in the draft. Go that route.
As for Dugger, he's just not good enough to pay a lot of money if you can get a return. Godchaux is a cap eater. Any deal that can free up his cap space is a good one. Yet, at age 30, don't expect much in return due to that ill-advised extension.