Players we could see traded (speculation)

Doctor DDS said:

I think Wise, Harmon, Dawson, Roberts and one of the punters could potentially be traded and bring something back though it would not be substantial.

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agree I'll add Butler Dorsett and Inman.

Allen is the most likely to be traded. Belichick didn’t move up to get Bailey for the fun of it, his big leg, athleticism, and versatility will win him P job.

I would think Inman or Berrios right? One of them (or both) is probably the odd man out anyways.

I think Jonathan Jones in a trade makes the most sense. The Pats are loaded with young talent at cornerback and Jones will probably set the new value at slot corner next year, surpassing Justin Coleman in the ballpark of $10 million, so there’s no chance that he’ll be back. A lot of teams would give up a kings ransom for him, (compared to what teams would give up for some of the other trade options) and a if a solid TE, tackle, or other position of need could be a part of the deal, even better.

By all accounts, Dawson has had an impressive camp and would likely step in as slot corner, while both Crossen and Williams show upside. I don’t think Bill wants to lose any of these guys.

It’s good to have depth. Let’s see who survives training camp healthy before we go trading it away.

TheFlyingWedge said:

By all accounts, Dawson has had an impressive camp and would likely step in as slot corner.

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Say what?

I’d start by adding my voice to those who’d rather roll the dice and keep players that might leave in FA next year.

The players that are most likely to be traded at are those who have value. Therefore, though I’d not want it to happen, I’d vote Thuney and Jones. They are solid players, they are cheap (this year), and NE could go with Froholdt at LG & when they play extra DBs you have Chung-DMac-Harmon at S & Gilmore-JC-JMac at CB...

Want them to stay pat, but those two would actually fetch something. MAAAAAAYBE a team like Detroit throws a conditional 7th for Ebner as a locker / culture guy. But unlikely.

So long as buffalo has a practice squad. We’re good

DaBruinz said:

With the plethora of talent that the Patriots have, we could see several trades before the start of the season. Whether it's to bring in a TE, a Swing Tackle or just future draft picks. Please note that I am NOT saying the Patriots should trade these guys. I'm stating that these players currently have trade value and could be dealt to improve an already impressive team.

Elandon Roberts - With the addition of Collins and the team having added Bentley last year, Roberts will be coming off the bench. Roberts still makes mistakes and is a liability in coverage, but he's progressed tremendously the last 2 years.

Jonathan Jones - He's on a 1 year deal. Guy is an awesome slot corner who can also move outside in a pinch. The team has Crossen and Dawson behind him. Crossen would probably have more value than Dawson to other teams, but Jones would be the big fish.

Duron Harmon - He's been a stalwart back there. The team added Melifonwu last year and Brooks this year. Harmon's value is probably close to being at it's peak. There are plenty of teams needing a good starting safety. The question is whether the Patriots feel confident in Brooks/Melifonwu to take over if DMac goes down.

Braxton Berrios - Slot Receiver and Punt Returner. There are still some teams who don't have a slot receiver and Berrios fits the bill.

Philip Dorsett - Dorsett is competent #3/#4 WR. I think that Dorsett's biggest issue is that he waits for the ball to get to him instead of adjusting to the ball, more often than not. That being said, he led the team in catch % at 76%. He's got a decent rapport with Brady.

Joe Thuney - He's in the last year of his contract. It's rumored that he turned down a contract extension. He's an All-Pro caliber player and should easily fetch a quality Swing Tackle and draft pick in return. It wouldn't be the first time the Patriots have dealt one of their best O-linemen in a contract year.

Brandon King - King is arguably one of the top 4 special teamers on the Patriots and has been since making the team 5 years ago. He can play on several of the special teams units and is an excellent tackler. Saying he's a linebacker is the same as saying that Slater is a WR.. Its for posterity.

Nate Ebner - Ebner is also arguably one of the Patriots best special teamers. If anyone watched Team USA Rugby in the Olympics, you see the attitude that he brings to the field. He literally made everyone on the field better when he was on it. I think that goes the same for Ebner on the Patriots Special Teams. I would hate to see him traded, but with the potential of $2M in cap savings, it may happen.

Ryan Allen - Left-footed punter who is damn good at putting the ball where it's needed.. Was clutch for the Pats numerous times last year. Also on a 1 year deal. His value depends on whether or not the Patriots believe that Bailey's hang-times, are worth the inaccuracy..

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The list is pretty much spot on as to who are our most likely trade possibilities, DB. Good job. I'll add my comments below.

1. I'd love to move Roberts. He's improved every year, but with Bentley back and roster spots at an extreme premium, I'd try to move him. However his value is what it is. A possible 7th would be the best value for him. If I were a GM, I'd probably wait though since I think it's likely he'll be cut. The only reason I'd trade for him was if I were afraid he'd not get through waivers.

2 I'm not moving Jones. I'm going for a championship, not building for the future. He's my 3rd or 4th best CB we have. He's a man who can run with THill and move back to S in a pinch. He's our best slot corner and although Crossen and Dawson are good development talents with potential, I'd rather him for THIS season. Another point is I'd doubt you could get more than a 3rd for him in the first place and when he leaves in FA, we will likely get that 3rd back. He adds too much value to a competitive team to trade to get a moderate cap gain.

3. Duron Harmon - Now THAT's the guy I'd like to move. Before Chung's injury in the Superbowl, Harmon spent most of the playoffs sitting on the bench. With the emergence of BOTH Brooks and Obi, Harmon and his cap number are ripe to move. I'd think you could get a 5th for him and I'd take it in a heart beat.

4. Barrios is more likely to get cut than make this team, especially now the Gordon is back. I feel strongly that Meyers has beaten him out to be the back up slot, and he isn't special enough to keep just as a PR. You could try and trade for him, but I don't think there would be a taker.

5. Dorsett, on the other hand WOULD have a market, perhaps, but he also has a unique (to this team anyways) skill set that would keep him off the market if I were Bill. He may have a limited route tree, but his is the only speed guy on this roster. He is also dependable, available, and has made big plays in big moments. With the youth, injuries, AND the never to be answer question of Gtordon's reliability, the WR room needs a guy like Dorsett.

6. Thuney is like Jones in my mind. Too important to trade because we are a contender, not rebuilding. Even more importantly , I think he's also going to end up being our first choice to back up an OT position if someone is injured. Just too valuable to trade. I'd keep him around while the Dane gets better and let him take over NEXT year. You don't want essentially 2 rookies manning your left side in a contending year. Besides, I doubt you could get more than a 2nd. I'd take the year of quality play ans then take a 3rd later.

7. With roster spots so precious, I'd LOVE to replace King with someone who adds more to the regular D than he does. I'd take anything, but here's hoping he's not on the team because that would mean guys who could add some value to the regular D, like Calhoun and Rivers might have a better chance to make it.

8. Same goes for Ebner. The league is doing everything in its power to de-emphasize the kicking game. Keeping ST's only guys like King, Ebner, and Slater are simply a luxury you can't afford anymore. Slater is safe because he adds a lot of value to the locker room, and punts occur much more than KO's and great gunners still retain their value. But I think Ebner and King are very vulnerable to be cut. And I just don't see a market for their skills.

patfanken said:

The list is pretty much spot on as to who are our most likely trade possibilities, DB. Good job. I'll add my comments below.

1. I'd love to move Roberts. He's improved every year, but with Bentley back and roster spots at an extreme premium, I'd try to move him.

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Ken,

Now you're just trying to ingratiate yourself with @ashley1992

Brandon_Cox said:

Say what?

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He certainly doesn’t look good today

I think those that question moving Thuney or Jones need to be more open minded about what value return could be.

Just because they have potential comp picks returning in two summers, doesn’t mean that is all the return we could receive. What if Thuney could be the major piece for a player like OJ Howard? Yes, you don’t want to creat an unnecessary hole at guard, but maybe it’s less of a chasm from Thuney to Froholdt than it is from Lacosse to whomever we could potentially acquire.

Just a thought. Would love to keep him, but I like examining all the opportunities

I.M. Fletcher said:

I think those that question moving Thuney or Jones need to be more open minded about what value return could be.

Just because they have potential comp picks returning in two summers, doesn’t mean that is all the return we could receive. What if Thuney could be the major piece for a player like OJ Howard? Yes, you don’t want to creat an unnecessary hole at guard, but maybe it’s less of a chasm from Thuney to Froholdt than it is from Lacosse to whomever we could potentially acquire.

Just a thought. Would love to keep him, but I like examining all the opportunities

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OJ would make our offense HOMICIDAL..

Falcons traded for Jordan Richards a year ago. I believe some team should throw a 7th rounder for Duke Dawson.

I agree with this thread's premise. Players that are out:

Harmon replaced by Brooks
Allen replaced by Bayley's
Ghost replaced by same
Roberts replaced by Munson
Hoyer replaced by Jarrett
Burkhead replaced by Harris
Devlin replaced by Jakobs

How much cap space would they gain?

I see two guys that we could trade that another team would see value,

1.) hoyer - he has proven this preseason that he is a better back up than other team’s top backup.

2.) wise - does not fit the 3-4 and is a pure 4-3 de.

Some hard cuts we have to make:

1.) Burkhead - Harris and Brossette have proven more thus far. And I doubt the oft injured Burkhead had any value on the trade market,

2.) Dawson - clearly behind Krossen on the depth chart.

3.) Allen - Bailey May not be half the directional punter that allen is, but he adds more value.

4.) any tight end not named izzo. What a putrid group!

ivanvamp said:

....

The trick is figuring out which ones to trade and which ones to keep.

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No, the trick is finding a trading partner to deal with.

One that doesn’t expect to pick up value from the waiver wire without giving anything in return. Only reason another team might trade instead of waiting for the cuts is to ensure they get the guy they want. But there are going to be lots of players on the waiver wire so there isn’t a huge compelling benefit to trade instead of wait. Unless we plan to trade someone who is a roster lock, and that is just dumb because it would weaken the team more than it helps. And don’t argue that we could do that because there is a replacement in waiting ready to step in, if we have that and there’s no deal that replacement is likely on the waiver wire, so what’s the real benefit to the trading partner?

Remember it takes two teams to make a trade.

DaBruinz said:

Duron Harmon - He's been a stalwart back there. The team added Melifonwu last year and Brooks this year. Harmon's value is probably close to being at it's peak. There are plenty of teams needing a good starting safety. The question is whether the Patriots feel confident in Brooks/Melifonwu to take over if DMac goes down.

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Based on what we've seen from Melifonwu, I don't think he could be the guy that gives the team confidence to deal Harmon. He's just been... not good.

Brooks, OTOH, has looked really good I think. His play has jumped off the screen in both games.

I think Harmon’s spot is less about the other safeties and more about whether they have a good enough #4 CB to cover TEs and RBs when D-Mac has in prior seasons.

On third and long against 1 RB and 1 TE, maybe that means Williams on the TE instead of Chung, Chung on the RB instead of McCourty, and McCourty deep instead of Harmon.

What the...why would any team trade for our guys when they could just wait for them to be cut? Just to jump in front of some other team, so they can get dibs on a player so compelling they’re about to get cut? An equivalent player could probably found in the cloud of released players on cutdown day. This doesn’t seem realistic.

I don’t see BB keeping guys just so they can get traded, either.

To be traded a guy would have to be extra depth at a position which is otherwise solid. So a Thuney trade is unrealistic because who’s the LG? Karmas? I don’t think so. Similarly I’m not sure who takes over for Harmon if he gets traded, Brooks? Maybe but Harmon is legend at OPPQBR on deep balls iirc. And again, Harmon would just get cut.

Only scenarios where I could see this happening are a Hoyer trade where they keep all three QB but Stidham shows enough for Hoyer to get cut in-season, or an Allen trade prior to Allen being outright cut.

Wait a sec. You know who might have trade value? Jakobi Myers.