Patriots rumors: Why Belichick should target Christian McCaffrey

The New England Patriots have been revivified by Bailey Zappe, like Frankenstein’s monster (after all it is Halloween time), after being cold-stone flat after their less-than-auspicious 1-3 start to the 2022 season.

But, now, all bets are off.

This Patriot team now looks poised to make a run at a playoff spot. Assuming they can catch the high-flying, 5-1 Buffalo Bills may be a bit of a stretch, but then again, with Zappe at the controls, who knows how high this Patriot team can reach?

So with the NFL November 1 trade deadline approaching, who might the Patriots trade, and who might they trade for to help them get to the next level? The call here is, they should go all out for Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina Panthers. But first, let’s take a look at who they can trade.

New England Patriots trade bait

The New England Patriots have several players who have performed well under expectations in 2022 and might just be of interest to some other NFL teams seeking to find diamonds in the rough before the deadline. Maybe.

Let’s start with offensive lineman, Isaiah Wynn. While Wynn has basically been average at offensive left tackle (OLT) in his first four years in the league (when he was actually on the field), his move to offensive right tackle (ORT) has been a huge flop. Picking up his fifth-year option has proven to be a major mistake.

Taking its necessary lumps, this space felt that having some assistance at ORT with the tight ends on his side would be just what the undersized Wynn would need to excel. It wasn’t. He couldn’t play on an island and he can’t evidently adapt to a more inside position either.

Wynn has been a penalty machine. He has six penalties to date and counting. That is an unacceptable number for a season never mind six games. Wynn will be gone either after the season or sooner. The thought here is sooner, at the trade deadline. Enter Marcus Cannon as the ORT.

Other trade candidates include Nelson Agholor, the wildly expensive yet almost completely ineffective wide receiver. If the Pats can get a seventh-round pick for Agholor and maybe dump some part of his salary then by all means go for it.

Another trade candidate is one who is a mystery, but since he’s not playing or producing much this season, he should go. That would be the magnetic Kendrick Bourne.

For whatever reason, Bourne’s season has gone to heck in a handbasket fast. He needs a change of scenery and might fetch something in compensation.

The New England Patriots should trade for Christian McCaffrey

Word is that the reeling Carolina Panthers may be in major reconstruction mode. If so, the Patriots should pounce on the cat’s explosive running back/receiver, Christian McCaffrey.

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Now the Pats aren’t even in the conversation supposedly to acquire the back. That’s all the more reason they should swoop in and get him. They can swap any of the aforementioned player(s) and/or add others if necessary, e.g. Damien Harris whose contract expires after this season when he’ll be a free agent. And of course, add whatever draft pick(s) it takes.

The Patriots lack explosiveness on offense. McCaffrey provides it in abundance. He’s a home run hitter par excellence and adding him to Rhamondre Stevenson and the Zappe-run offense employing RPO more extensively, you may really have something there.

So that’s the thought. Have at it. But, adding a bonafide offensive playmaker to this New England Patriots squad could well be the difference between being also-rans in the AFC playoff hunt, or being smack dab in the middle of it. The latter choice is better, don’t you think? The choice here is clear, go for it!