New England Patriots: 3 trade candidates before the start of the season
New England Patriots trade candidate No. 2: Sony Michel
The New England Patriots have arguably one of the deepest running back rooms in the NFL. They probably have four or five guys who could be starting on their roster, and it’s beginning to seem increasingly unlikely that they are just going to cut one of these guys without getting anything in return.
Ever since Damien Harris emerged last season as the Patriots top option, fans have wondered what this means for Sony Michel‘s future with the team. The former first round pick from Georgia was absolutely vital to the Pats most recent Super Bowl victory over the Los Angeles Rams, but has struggled to stay on the field recently, and has seemingly lost the top spot in the rotation to Harris.
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Despite this, Michel has continued to see just as much opportunity as Harris, and he vastly outperformed him during the recent blowout over the Eagles. He was even able to make his mark in the passing game, which had been one of his biggest weaknesses throughout his first two seasons. It’s clear he can play, the question is whether or not New England has a spot for him on their roster.
Harris and recent fourth round pick Rhamondre Stevenson are locks at this point, and after it initially seemed like James White may have a difficult time cracking the roster, his spot should be secure at this point too. J.J. Taylor is the most likely candidate to be cut, but anytime he has been given an opportunity to play, he has been phenomenal.
The Patriots could conceivably risk cutting Taylor and sneaking him onto their practice squad, but it seems extremely unlikely he would fall through the cracks. They could conceivably try to trade him as well, but they would net a better return by moving Michel. Michel has proven to be a successful NFL running back when healthy, while Taylor has only shown as much in preseason action.
Something’s got to give in the Patriots crowded running back room, and rather than being forced into making a tough cut at the end of the month, they should look to make a move while they can to help free up some space on the roster. Trading Michel to a running back needy team would be the perfect option to do just that.