5 Patriots who could be dealt before the NFL trade deadline

Patriots

Patriot veterans like Jonathan Jones and Kendrick Bourne could be attractive trade targets for contending teams.

The Patriots pulled their defense earlier this week, sending pass rusher Josh Uche to the Kansas City Chiefs for a sixth-round pick in 2026.

But with New England currently sitting at 2-6 on the season — and with a lengthy rebuild ahead of them — Eliot Wolf and the rest of the Patriots’ top brass could look to move even more assets before the NFL’s trade deadline on 1 November. 5.

While a Patriots roster short on top talent may not net the team first-, second-, or even third-round draft picks as compensation, Wolf and his staff could fill out their draft cabinet if they decide to listen to offers for several other vets on this team.

Here’s a look at five Patriots players who could be dealt before Tuesday.

W. Kendrick Bourne

Kendrick Bourne has seen his name pop up in trade rumors several times this year – albeit in the summer during the Brandon Aiyuk Raffle or even earlier this month in more rumors surrounding the 49ers.

The elder statesman in New England’s receiving room, the 29-year-old Bourne has proven himself as a reliable pass-catcher during his tenure with the Patriots.

Bourne hauled in 37 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns in just eight games last season before suffering a torn ACL in a road game against the Dolphins.

He’s been slow out of the gate this season as he works his way back from that knee injury (four catches, 29 yards in four games), but Bourne is a solid receiver who should be coveted by multiple teams in need of pass catchers.

Any team acquiring Bourne would also have some certainty, as Bourne signed a three-year deal worth up to $33 million last offseason.

Ultimately, any deal involving Bourne will hinge on how high a draft pick the Patriots can net, and whether or not the team feels comfortable taking a veteran out of a very young receiver room.

DT Davon Godchaux

Davon Godchaux, another Patriots regular who has seen his name pop up in 49ers trade rumors, has been one of the few bright spots in New England’s disappointing 2024 defense.

The 29-year-old nose tackle has been a consistent run-stopper in New England for years, routinely plugging gaps and cutting off lanes at the line of scrimmage.

Godchaux, who signed a two-year contract extension worth up to $21 million earlier this year, could be an attractive prospect for a San Francisco roster playing without DT Javon Hargrave (torn triceps).

Godchaux pushed aside talks about transactions earlier this week.

‘Yes, I was shocked, but at the end of the day this is a business’ Godchaux told Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald after New England’s 25-22 win over the Jets. “I mean, (expletive) happens all the time. I’m sure some guys think they can stay on the team for a very long time, and something happens. This is the business of the NFL. We signed up for this.”

While Godchaux’s production and contract could make him a top option on the trade market, New England would also remove another respected veteran from the locker room — and further hamper a run defense that has given up 150 rushing yards in three of the last four games. .

CB Jonathan Jones

Jonathan Jones is in the same boat as players like Godchaux and Bourne. The veteran cornerback has the winning pedigree (two Super Bowl titles) and speed that many contenders would love to add to their secondary before the trade deadline.

But would the return be enough for a Patriots team that also values ​​the leadership Jones provides on a very young and still malleable defense?

Again, it could come down to the kind of draft compensation the Patriots are looking for with a player like Jones, who has recorded three passes defensed and 28 tackles in eight games this season.

For a defensively challenged team looking to win the Lombardi Trophy like the Ravens, a hard-nosed corner like Jones, who can play in the slot or on the outside, makes sense.

But is moving Jones worth it for New England if it’s just another fifth- or sixth-round selection? It’s something Wolf and Co. will have to think about in the coming days.

WR KJ Osborn

This one feels very obvious, especially after KJ Osborn already addressed trade rumors revolved around him last week.

Despite averaging 52.7 receptions, 615 receiving yards and five touchdowns per season over the past three years with the Vikings, Osborn has failed to make a significant impact with New England, with just seven receptions for 57 yards and one touchdown.

With rookie Javon Baker potentially in line for a bigger role in the future, the Patriots could opt to give Osborn a fresh start elsewhere while also making room in the wide receiver room.

WR Tyquan Thornton

Like Osborn, the Patriots may just want to cut bait with Thornton at this point, especially if it creates more roster space to elevate younger players or add talent at the deadline.

Despite Tyquan Thornton’s speed and high draft pedigree (50th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft), he hasn’t been able to put it together with the Patriots.

While the TCU product’s straight-line acceleration would seemingly make him an attractive target for a strong-arm QB like Drake Maye, he’s caught just four passes for 47 yards in 2024 — dropping a dart from Maye in the win on Sunday at the Jets.

New England has Thornton reportedly dangled in trade negotiations for more than a monthalthough it remains unlikely that the Patriots would land a premium draft pick for a player who has failed to post impressive statistical lines during his three seasons in Foxborough.

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Conor Ryan is a staff writer for the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.

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