Patriots Acquire Isaac Sopoaga from Eagles at NFL Trade Deadline
The New England Patriots acquired veteran defensive lineman Isaac Sopoaga from the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday afternoon.
The Patriots receive Sopoaga and a 2014 sixth-round draft pick in exchange for a 2014 fifth-round draft pick from the Eagles.
The move went down in the final minutes of the NFL trade deadline.
Analysis: This is a great trade for the Patriots. Not only do they acquire a player at a position of need, but they do for almost nothing. Essentially, New England traded down from the fifth to sixth round in 2014 for Sopoaga.
The 32-year-old Sopoaga gives the Pats a big bodied (6-2, 330), savvy veteran, that offers some interior line help. With Kelly sidelined with a knee injury and Vince Wilfork out for the season, the defensive tackle position was dangerously thin.
Since Wilfork has been placed on Injured-Reserve, the Pats have given up 156.5 rushing yards-per-game; which is 646 total rushing yards allowed in the last four contests.
Sopoaga has been a base defensive player for the majority of his entire career. He was a member of the San Francisco 49ers, before signing a three-year deal with the Eagles this offseason.
The Pats will pay Sopoaga $529,000 this year and inherit two non-guaranteed 2014 and 2015 salaries of $3.75 and $3.5 million.
His addition also keeps rookies Chris Jones and Joe Vellano fresh for sub package reps. As an ideal nose tackle, Sopoaga fits perfectly as New England has favored a 3-4 base defense the last few weeks.
The Patriots and Eagles transaction for Sopoaga was the only move made by all NFL teams at the trade deadline.
