New England Patriots: Why trading these marginal players could pay off

Here’s some advice to the New England Patriots, don’t be afraid to trade marginal players in this latter part of the offseason, it may pay off.

The Patriots roster is in pretty decent shape at present, yet the injury to Jonnu Smith is a troubling occurrence.

It’s never a good thing if a team’s strong point suddenly becomes compromised by injury and much weaker. Smith and Henry are essential components of the team’s offense.

There’s essentially no depth behind them. The Patriots can ill-afford an injury to a top-two tight end.

With that said, generally, the team should be ready to trade players who have yet to live up to their expectations, their draft positions, or otherwise.

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They should also be willing to trade others in positions of relative strength-in-depth to bolster other weaker positions on the team. There are several who come easily to mind.

Marginal players for the New England Patriots to consider trading

The Patriots have gotten a look at many of their players in OTAs, voluntary and now mandatory. Some of these could be considered as players who could be traded to another team in need at those positions.

Now, don’t expect to get an All-Pro for a backup second-round choice who has flopped. Not happening.

Rather it may be useful (or not) to swap another team’s flop for yours if their flops happen to be players at positions at which you could use help.

A couple of high draft picks come immediately to mind. First, N’Keal Harry is a first-round wide receiver who has done little in New England and isn’t likely to in the future.

Why not swap Harry to another team with an underperforming player where the Patriots could use some help. A change of scenery may help both players.

Coming back to the Patriots could be a tight end. With the Jonnu Smith injury, there is Hunter Henry, who is also susceptible to injury, and no one else.

Look to a team with some depth at tight end and make a swap if possible. There’s little to lose. Henry has been basically a flop in New England.

Maybe a change of scenery will do him good, e.g. to Arizona, and perhaps the Cardinals have players at tight end or another position the Patriots could use, e.g. cornerback.

If the stars align, make the deal. There is almost nothing to lose. Another example is the pre-mentioned cornerback position. A second-round flop-to-date is Joejuan Williams.

He’s a big corner/safety and may be enticing to some other NFL team who’d like to off-load one of their non-performing high picks, as well. Maybe an offensive tackle who has had problems might fit nicely. Offensive tackle depth is a need spot for New England.

New England failed to address this position in the draft (guard/tackle William Sherman notwithstanding). Perhaps there is a team out there with a surplus of offensive tackles around.

Oakland was one we can recall that gave up a super one in Trent Brown. Maybe another one might be willing to swap a backup tackle for a cornerback.

There are other players on the Patriots who may also fit into this profile. One is Chase Winovich and it pains to suggest this. Yet, Winovich who was certainly hyped in this space really failed to improve as expected in his second season.

He was not seen, if I am correct, in OTA’s. Whatever the reason, he could now be a candidate for a trade for another good prospect at a position of greater need for the team. He is not a flop if he has somewhat disappointed.

This could be an injured solid player, e.g. an offensive tackle, cornerback, tight end, or an underperforming but still solid player on another team or whatever.

Another player who could be moved is Sony Michel. Michel is a good back but nothing special. The Patriots are solid at running back at present even without Michel.

If an injury to another’ team’s back(s) warrants a move on their part, Michel might fetch a solid player in return.

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That’s exactly the type of move that makes sense, especially since Michel’s fifth-year option was not picked up by the Patriots.

So, these are a few players on the Patriots who may be expendable and have some trade value either in players or possibly draft picks.

The suggestion here is, if they don’t fit, aren’t progressing, or maybe need a new venue, just make a move on any or all of them. There’s little to lose and possibly a lot to gain.

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