The 2025 offseason began with many changes for the Patriots, the most notable being a change at head coach: Robert Kraft fired Jerod Mayo and hired Mike Vrabel. The new regime stepped in and was quick to make its desires for what it wanted the team to be clear, starting by moving on from every remaining dynasty-era player on the team and preparing to trade others who had once been big parts of their team production.
Many of those trades didn't happen until the season already began, like safety Kyle Dugger being shipped to the Steelers ahead of the deadline in October.
Joining him as one of the most expected moves was defensive end Keion White, who Vrabel and Co. traded, along with a seventh-round pick, to the 49ers for just a sixth-rounder in return. The details of that trade included a stipulation about White's playing time: if he were active for seven games in San Francisco, the Patriots would keep the seventh-round pick they sent.
Based on what we saw this past Monday night, the 49ers will not be holding onto that Day 3 pick in next year's draft.
Another midseason trade proves to be a valuable move by Mike Vrabel and the Patriots' front office
With White being active for the 49ers' win over the Colts in Week 16, the Patriots will now have swapped their 2023 second-round pick for a 2026 sixth-rounder and keep the seventh-round selection they had initially sent with him.
Although it's not the most coveted selection, since it's the last round of a draft, it's still a pick that could be included in any trades the team might want to partake in before or during next year's draft, which makes it far more valuable.
They go into the 2026 offseason with a fair amount of cap space to play with, as Over the Cap estimates they will have just shy of $48 million in their wallet. It is the ninth-most in the league, with the Titans holding over $105 million, but the Patriots made a lot of good signings this spring, allowing them to spend less this time around.
They've also been stockpiling draft picks, suggesting they're interested in making trades when the time comes. Adding another pick back in their stash because of White's production just makes that even easier to do next year.
It shows how smart it was to include that part in the trade transaction, proving more that the Patriots come out the winners of the move, even if White appears to be becoming a big part of the 49ers' defense so far.