6 dream trades Patriots could get done to prove a new regime is in town

TE Dawson Knox

Adding more depth to the tight end room has seemingly gone under the radar this offseason, mainly due to Hunter Henry's contract extension in free agency. He has been the best at the position since Rob Gronkowski "retired" in 2019 and has become one of the most reliable weapons for any quarterback since he signed with the team three years ago.

He is expected to remain the TE1 this fall, and who will accompany him will be determined by how training camp goes for several players, including rookie Jaheim Bell.

Because of his connection to Alex Van Pelt, the Patriots signed Austin Hooper to be Henry's backup, but he hasn't had an impressive season in enough time not to feel too comfortable with him being their best player behind their starter.

The same could be said for the others on the roster, which opens the door for a trade with the Bills for Dawson Knox.

Typically, in-division trades are not common, especially when they involve teams with such rivaled histories. But the Bills drafted Dalton Kincaid in the first round of the 2023 draft, and he filled in for Knox while he was out with an injury last year far better than most may have anticipated.

Kincaid certainly lived up to the first-round hype and can take over as the TE1 in Buffalo if they choose to go that route. If so, Knox should become available, and the Patriots should jump on the opportunity to find the best possible partner for Henry in the next few years.

He has been a solid performer for the Bills since he was drafted in 2019, averaging just under 400 yards a season. But Kincaid topped that as a rookie by recording 673 yards. Going with the younger, first-round option might be the way to go, making Knox available for a decent price.