The Patriots are predicted to make significant moves this offseason, utilizing their estimated $128 million in cap space to bolster the team and return to being competitive again. That was expected to be the case during the 2024 offseason, only for the regime led by Jerod Mayo to nearly do the complete opposite, putting the Patriots back into the same position a year later.
Now that a new coaching staff will be calling the shots, the hope is they will accomplish what was believed to be completed last year, but this time, they'll have more to work with to improve the roster. Because of that, there is a lot of speculation about what kind of trades they might try to get done, many of which have been discussed in recent weeks as big-time names have been put on the trade market.
Who they acquire in free agency, whether via trades or signings, will ultimately dictate how they go about the draft. If they can bring in some top-name talent, the Patriots can explore more options with their draft picks.
One name to watch is Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, who has been named a likely trade target or cut candidate as free agency begins. Many analysts have hypothesized what the Patriots could offer to make a deal, with the latest offer being too good to pass up.
The Patriots could easily trade for Joey Bosa without giving up much to acquire him
Because of his age and contract, the assumption is that whatever team hopes to trade for Bosa would have to give up a lot to complete a deal. However, that's not the case for the Patriots, which makes it an even better trade option to seriously consider.
Jason Reed of Bolt Beat put together a trade package that has the Patriots sending the 145th pick, a fifth rounder, to Los Angeles for the pass rusher.
"The Patriots undoubtedly need to add an edge rusher this offseason and Bosa would be a good short-term addition. It's probably better for the Patriots to pay Bosa just over $25 million for one year rather than overspend for one of the mid-tier edge rushers in free agency.
By doing so, the Pats can still draft an edge rusher to develop while also maintaining future cap flexibility. For the cost of a fifth-round pick, it's worth the swing."
Not only would this trade be ideal because it would add a productive player to a weak defensive line, but sending a fifth-round pick for a player of Bosa's caliber would allow the Patriots to make a significant improvement to the defense and still hold top-tier picks to fill out the rest of the team through the draft.
It would also give them a solid opportunity to potentially extend Bosa beyond the 2025 season, keeping a proven veteran in the locker room to help mentor the younger players they will inevitably add to the roster.
It feels like a win-win situation for everyone, including Bosa, who's likely looking for a fresh start if his longtime team is contemplating moving on from him in some capacity. He could be a great player for Vrabel to coach and work with and a big asset to a defense that needs an impactful pass rusher.