In this morning's column, Mike Reiss discusses the possibility of trading for a cb.
"5a. It might be a longshot, but if I'm Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and director of player personnel Nick Caserio, I'm calling the Titans before Tuesday's trade deadline to see if there's anything that might entice them to trade cornerback Jason McCourty, the twin brother of Patriots safety Devin McCourty. Cornerback is the position where the Patriots are noticeably thin, and Jason McCourty is scheduled to earn base salaries of $7 million in both 2016 and 2017. Would the Titans, who played competitive pass defense without McCourty in three games to start the season and then last Sunday when McCourty left with a hamstring injury, see value in clearing salary while adding either a 2016 third-round pick or 2017 second-round pick? I'm just spit-balling here, which is the only type of fantasy football I play.
5b. If not McCourty, Chiefs cornerback Marcus Cooper remains a target I think could interest New England if Kansas City would consider trading him for a late-round pick. Cooper is hardly playing for the Chiefs this season. The Patriots tried to claim him on waivers back in 2013 when he was waived by the 49ers, but the Chiefs had priority and trumped them."
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Reiss doesn't suggest how they fit McCourty into the salary cap, but he ususually doesn't just throw things out there without giving it any thought. I for one would be psyched if this happens. I feel like we are just one good cb away from having a dominant defense. Everything on the defense is coming together. Easley is healthy and becoming a difference maker, Jones is becoming a force, Nink has gotten past some early season struggles and looks like his old self, Sheard is better than expected, we have depth at DT, and Hightower and Collins are awesome. We just need the pass coverage to tighten up. Adding J McCourty to join Butler with Ryan becoming the third CB just might do that. Along with D McCourty, Chung, and Harmon, our secondary will be formidable along with a great front 7.