The New England Patriots surprised many by choosing not to make significant moves at last month’s NFL trade deadline.
While they did trade edge rusher Josh Uche in late October, that was their only action before the November 5 deadline. This raised questions about why a rebuilding team like the Patriots didn’t sell off more players.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Patriots had limited options. “New England knows it’s far too short on building blocks,” Fowler explained.
“At the deadline, opposing teams showed interest only in key players like cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux.
The Patriots refused to move Gonzalez, and Godchaux remains valuable for stabilizing the defensive front. Meanwhile, their struggling receiver group drew little to no interest. So, New England stood pat.”
While Gonzalez was unsurprisingly off-limits, there had been speculation about trading Godchaux, given his age (30). However, with a contract through 2026, it seems the Patriots value his veteran leadership for developing younger players.
The lack of interest in New England’s wide receivers is particularly notable. Many wondered why no trades occurred, but it seems there was little demand.
This is curious, considering Tyquan Thornton quickly signed with the Kansas City Chiefs after being released, following interest from over a dozen teams. Perhaps other teams simply didn’t see enough value in trading for New England’s receivers.
