The further we get into the season, the more it truly looks like the New England Patriots have turned a corner, and it's all thanks to first-year head coach Mike Vrabel. Under Vrabel's leadership, this team has an identity. They have clear direction.
And, with just a few weeks to go before the league's trade deadline on November 4, Vrabel and the Patriots could be eyeing a massive move to help put them over the top and become a real threat going forward.
Recently, it's been speculated that the Patriots could be a good fit for Cincinnati Bengals star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. Would New England be able to make something like that happen? It all depends on a few factors.
Trey Hendrickson could be there for the Patriots' taking before the NFL trade deadline
First, the Bengals would have to lose a couple of games, which is very possible. The recent trade for Joe Flacco proves that the Bengals aren't exactly giving up on the year without Joe Burrow. But, will Flacco move the needle all that much?
It's not likely.
So, let's say we get a couple of weeks from now and the Bengals drop to 2-5, it could be selling time, whether they like it or not. At some point, Cincinnati will have to wake up and realize that Hendrickson likely won't be around on a long-term basis.
The Bengals already did this to themselves by refusing to give Hendrickson the deal he not only wanted, but deserved. The Patriots, meanwhile, could be looking at giving Hendrickson the long-term contract he'd like.
And, after all, Hendrickson is that gritty, nasty type of defensive end whom Vrabel would love to have in his defense. He's already got himself 4.0 sacks on the year, in his first five games, and last year's sack leader doesn't look to be slowing down.
In the AFC East, the Patriots are going to need as strong a defense as they can possibly get in order to continue competing with the Buffalo Bills (and beating them, for that matter). Hendrickson is that type of team-leading, difference-making veteran who could make a lot of sense for the Patriots.
Hendrickson is about to turn 31 years old in December, which might be the biggest and only hangup, here. However, he's been a model of consistency. He's played all 17 games in the past two seasons and played in 15 the year before that.
If Hendrickson could be had for, say, a third-round pick, then the Patriots should pounce.