5 of the worst New England Patriots trades during the Bill Belichick era

Michael Bennett to the Patriots for fifth & seventh-round picks in 2019

One of the more under-the-radar trades that most seem to forget about is definitely trading fifth and seventh-round picks for defensive end Michael Bennett in 2019.

After their success from signing his brother three years earlier, adding another Bennett into the mix seemed like a good idea. The Patriots were looking to bolster their front seven, and adding a well-established pass-rusher was a great move at the start of free agency that year.

Once the season began, the team performed well and went 8-1 before getting to their bye week. The defense was on fire, which brought back the Boogeymen nickname from a few years prior and quickly became one of the most dominant defensive units in the league.

But a noticeable missing piece from it all was Bennett.

Things were okay through the first six weeks of the year; although his production on the field was limited, it didn't appear like he was an absolute trade bust at the time. But it all got weird in mid-October when Bennett was suspended one game for "detrimental conduct" due to an argument with one of his coaches.

After his suspension was served, he spoke with the media about his unhappiness with his role on the team. Bennett also alluded to wanting out of New England, which wound up happening.

The following day, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a conditional seventh-round pick.

Bennett only played in six games as a Patriot and didn't contribute much on the field during that time to even make the trade a little bit worth it. Although giving up later-round picks doesn't seem like a waste, not getting much in return does.