Four Patriots Make Fake Trades and One Dilemma Before the NFL Deadline – Boston Herald

FOXBORO – Like most rebuilding teams, the Patriots have a game plan for Tuesday’s trade deadline that can be summed up in one word.

To sell.

Sell, sell, sell.

But who? And for what?

The easy answer is to provide aging veterans with future draft picks that can fill their long-term vision. But in recent weeks, a third question has complicated the Patriots’ calculations.

How much locker room leadership can they afford to lose?

Because Cracks in Jerod Mayo’s culture began to reveal themselves after the Pats’ lopsided loss in London, followed by their sixth consecutive match, which prompted an unscheduled speech from captain Ja’Whaun Bentley days later. Like most of the Patriots’ original captains, Bentley is out of the picture. He and center David Andrews have suffered long-term, if not season-ending injuries, while Jacoby Brissett lost his starting job and Jabrill Peppers stayed away from the team. on the commissioner’s exempt list.

Upsetting the Jets last weekend undoubtedly put some sealant on those cracks, but a bad enough loss to the 1-6 Titans this Sunday could threaten that will go away. At that point, Mayo will need experienced leaders to once again spread its gospel in meetings and live it out on the practice field as the Patriots play their toughest games in another losing season.

Veterans like steady-eddy cornerback Jonathan Jones, the Pats’ most valuable trade chip. Jones is the team’s longest-tenured defenseman and a company man. It was Jones who spoke up after Mayo tore the team apart because you’re soft in Londonessentially telling his teammates to man up. It was Jones who helped them plug holes in their secondary against the Jets, playing outside cornerback, nickelback and safety.

The 31-year-old is the only adult in a position room with young corners; something that can also be said of Kendrick Bourne and the Patriots’ receivers.

Bourne, who was dangled in trade talks by the front office this summer with the 49erscould already be out the door if the Patriots were operating in an NFL vacuum. But they aren’t. They work with an immature group of young wideouts, where players with almost as many career catches as healthy scratchers ask for the ball, and virtually everyone else drops the ball.

Bourne, who admitted he was immature earlier in his career, spoke last week. He articulated responsibility, support and a detailed vision for how young teammates like Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker could follow a similar path to long NFL careers (without his own drops against the Jets).

How Patriots veteran wide receiver KJ Osborn is dealing with trade rumors

So are the Patriots willing to set that example and, say, take a seventh-round pick for a sixth-round pick while Polk and Baker approach more playing time?

Mind you, Polk has dropped three of his last thirteen targets, during which time he has stated that he has done so the best hands in the competition. Meanwhile, Baker played just six offensive snaps this season, during which time his offensive coordinator admitted he was having trouble learning the playbook. Will the Patriots take into account Bourne’s guidance as an eight-year veteran? with a three-year contract?

Mayo answered a version of that question on Wednesday.

“Our job is to bring in good players and keep our good players. I think you bring up an interesting point about culture, guys. I think that’s important,” he said. “I would also say I think it’s important with the coaches as well, to bring in guys who really believe in the culture and where we’re trying to go. We’re definitely taking that into consideration.”

Well, considering ‘consideration’ could mean several things, here are four mock trades for the Patriots ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline at 4 p.m.

Patriots trade: WR Kendrick Bourne, 2025 seventh-round pick

49ers trade: 2026 fifth-round pick

The Pats netted the value of a sixth-round pick in a pick-swap trade, something the Panthers didn’t do when they traded receiver Diontae Johnson to Baltimore in a similar deal on Tuesday. But by asking for a fifth-round pick two seasons early, the Patriots can make the overall argument that the value of that 2026 pick is equal to a 2025 sixth-round pick, which is good for both sides unpacks.

The 49ers needing receiver get a player and a pick today, while the rebuilding Patriots are happy to secure the best asset in this deal until tomorrow.

Patriots act: WR KJ Osborn, 2025 seventh-round pick

Chargers trade: 2025 sixth-round pick

A simpler version of the above transaction with similar reasoning. The Patriots currently have seven wideouts on the roster, which is at least one too many. Like Bourne, Osborn is a proven veteran. He averaged 53 catches and 615 receiving yards over his final three seasons in Minnesota before signing with New England, where his per-box score numbers and deeper stats are poor.

The Chargers don’t care as they need a wideout and are chasing a Wild Card spot at 4-3. In this deal, the Bolts send the Patriots back their original 2025 sixth-rounder — acquired in last year’s JC Jackson transaction — and receive what ends up being the best of the Pats’ three current seventh-round picks.

Patriots trade: CB Jonathan Jones

Vikings trade: 2026 sixth-round pick

As a 31-year-old corner in a contract year, Jones can’t promise he’ll play basic-level football much longer, regardless of which team he plays for. But the Vikings are going for it, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores knows Jones well from his time in New England. Jones can provide depth at any position in Minnesota’s secondary, a rare plug-and-play piece from the moment he arrives.

Note: The Vikings only have three picks next year: their first-rounder and two fifth-round picks.

Patriots trade: 2025 fifth-round pick

Commanders act: CB Emmanuel Forbes, 2025 sixth-round pick

Forbes, a 2023 first-round pick, has quickly fallen from record potential to projected failure in Washington. Despite a regime change this offseason, Forbes remains buried on the Commanders’ depth chart and has barely played 100 defensive snaps. He was also rated as one of the worst corners in football last year as a rookie. But …

Forbes’ best NFL game came last November in Foxboro, when he broke up three passes and allowed two catches on seven targets during a 20-17 commanders victory. Personal appearances often leave an impression on front offices, and in New England, Forbes could put his 6-foot-4 frame and 4.35 speed to better use in the Patriots’ man-to-man scheme. This is a buy-low opportunity for the Pats, who otherwise have a host of smaller corners around Christian Gonzalez, the only proven starter not named Jonathan Jones.

Roll the dice. Call.