The New England Patriots have made a concerted effort to improve their offense this offseason, but their defensive additions have been largely ignored by the national media.
New England signed Dre'Mont Jones after he managed a career-high seven sacks with the Titans and Ravens in 2025, while three-time All-Pro and last season's league interceptions leader Kevin Byard was added to the back end.
The team also selected Gabe Jacas in the second round after securing a trade-up from the 63rd to the 55th pick. Jacas has yet to sign his contract, and given the release of Anfernee Jennings earlier in the offseason, the Patriots still have a need on the edge.
New England still has over $37 million in cap space, meaning they have the financial means to add another top edge rusher in free agency if they so choose. Free agency features players like Joey Bosa and Jadeveon Clowney, but they're unlikely to offer more than situational pass rush.
Instead, the Patriots could use an offensive depth piece to facilitate a three-team trade.
This three-team trade makes too much sense for the Patriots
Given New England's cap space and Super Bowl window, the team should continue to target top players to add to the roster. On the edge, Alex Highsmith and Kayvon Thibodeaux have been named as potential targets, but both the Steelers and Giants have playoff hopes.
The Arizona Cardinals are not set up to make a push for the postseason.
The Cardinals are a rebuilding team, and they know it. Mike LaFleur was hired to be the team's coach this offseason, and while Jeremiyah Love will give them a boost, the team is far away from competing. In this mock trade, they send Josh Sweat to the Patriots, with the Chiefs also in on the deal.
Mock Three Team Trade:#Cardinals Receive:
— Graham Wilker (@GrahamWilker1) July 7, 2026
NE 3rd Round Pick*
KC 5th Round Pick^#Patriots Receive:
ED Josh Sweat#Chiefs Receive:
WR Kayshon Boutte
* Becomes 2nd Round Pick if Sweat has 10+ sacks.
^ Becomes 4th Round Pick if Boutte has 900+ yards.
The Patriots add Sweat and, in exchange, send a conditional third-round pick to Arizona that can become a second-round pick if he has 10+ sacks. Rather than sending a second pick to the Cardinals, they also send Kayshon Boutte to the Chiefs, a team in desperate need of receiving help, especially considering Rashee Rice's constant unavailability.
Rather than sending a pick back to New England, the Chiefs instead send a conditional fifth-round selection to Arizona to help facilitate the Sweat deal. The fifth-round pick could become a fourth-round pick if Boutte has 900+ yards, something no Chiefs pass catcher has accomplished since 2023 (Travis Kelce and Rice).
Boutte played over 90% of his snaps out wide for New England last season, and with the additions of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, he's not likely to be happy with a reduced role in a contract year.
Why would Josh Sweat be such a good addition?
Parting with a top-100 pick and Boutte would be difficult, but it's about the going price for a solid edge defender nowadays. Jonathan Greenard was traded for a pair of third-round picks earlier this offseason, while Sweat would be valued similarly in this deal.
Last year in Arizona, Sweat notched 12.0 sacks, more than any Patriot across the regular season and playoffs. He managed a 13.2% pressure rate and had a 69.8 PFF run defense grade.
Sweat had 11 sacks in his first 12 games, but notched only one in his final five matchups. He dealt with an ankle injury at the end of the season, sustained in the first quarter of the team's Week 16 matchup against the Falcons.
He played 24 and 19 defensive snaps in the final two games of the year, each the fewest of the season except for his Week 16 game.
As of now, New England's edge group has some question marks. Harold Landry tailed off, missing the final two games of the regular season and the AFC Championship. Across the playoffs, he failed to record a sack. He averaged 17 snaps a game in the postseason, a sharp drop-off from his 45 per game across 15 regular-season games.
If Landry is unable to be at his best, the team will be relying on Dre'Mont Jones, whose primary responsibility is to set the edge against the run. He just had a career-high seven sacks. Jacas remains unsigned, while 2025 UDFA Elijah Ponder would also be asked to take the next step after a four-sack season last year.
If the Patriots have the chance to declutter their receiver room while adding a top edge threat for the price of a third-round pick, the team needs to take advantage.
Add us as a preferred source on Google