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What NFL experts are saying about the possibility of a blockbuster Patriots trade
"To cut to the chase, it's kind of posturing."
The possibility of a Patriots trade: While speaking to reporters prior to a training camp practice on Monday, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf admitted openly that the team would “consider” trading a top draft pick to acquire additional talent prior to the start of the 2025 season.
“Just doing what’s best for the team,” Wolf explained. “If there’s a player out there we feel can help us, and it cost [a high draft pick], then we would consider doing that.”
This predictably sent waves around New England as the full ramifications of what Wolf said began to resonate. Still, the reality might be a little disappointing for Patriots fans hoping that this could signal the acquisition of star holdouts like Bengals defensive lineman Trey Hendrickson or Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
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In the view of several NFL reporters, a Patriots trade might not be on the horizon.
“The Patriots — like every team — are constantly looking for possible ways to improve their roster,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini noted Tuesday morning.
“But from conversations I’ve been having, I don’t sense that New England is close on a deal for any of the NFL’s disgruntled stars at this time,” Russini added.
Other league insiders reflected a similar line of reporting.
“I’m told the New England Patriots currently feel the cost to acquire Bengals star rusher Trey Hendrickson is ‘too much,’ per a league source as of Monday,” wrote Josina Anderson. “The club continues to do due diligence by monitoring the market for Hendrickson.”
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Closer to home, Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald concurred with the skepticism about the potential of an imminent deal.
“To me, I think this was just Eliot saying, ‘Yeah, we would consider anything, but what am I actually getting on the table?'” he said on NBC Sports Boston Monday night.
“To cut to the chase, it’s kind of posturing,” Patriots reporter Tom Curran added. “It’s telling all the other 31 teams, ‘Hey, if you’ve got somebody you want to move, you could move them. We’re not going to give a first-round pick for virtually anybody, but if a hypothetical came and you said we’re going to send you Player X, who’s a top-three player, then we would do that.'”
“But I think it’s interesting to show not so much that [the Patriots] are in on everybody, I don’t think it’s false in that regard, but that there is an urgency that they want to convey that you and I have talked about for years was absent,” Curran said in response to Callahan.
The Patriots have a few more weeks of preseason to get the roster set prior to the Week 1 kickoff against the Raiders on Sept. 7.
Trivia: Eliot Wolf’s father, Ron, was a longtime general manager of the Packers. Early in his tenure in Green Bay, the elder Wolf traded a first-round pick to acquire a future three-time MVP. Who was that player?
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(Answer at the bottom.)
Hint: He would go on to start 253 consecutive games for the Packers.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox lost to the Orioles 6-3 on Monday. The two teams play again today at Fenway Park, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m.
The Patriots are preparing for the team’s final preseason game at the Giants on Thursday at 8 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- Trevor Rogers, Orioles top Red Sox 6-3 at Fenway
- 5 takeaways from Day 17 of Patriots training camp
- Patriots rookie Will Campbell is earning high grades for his play so far this preseason
- Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman explains the ‘blessing’ that came from a tough 2024-25 season
- Eliot Wolf says Patriots would consider trading top draft picks to improve roster in 2025
- Patriots to face Matthew Judon twice after linebacker signs with AFC East team
- Patriots rookie Will Campbell is earning high grades for his play so far this preseason
- Patriots to face Matthew Judon twice after linebacker signs with AFC East team
- ESPN analyst discussed what Drake Maye needs to show more of as Patriots QB
- ‘He saved my life’: Jarren Duran lookalike contest has deeper meaning for winner Joshua Hollingworth of Plymouth
An ESPN throwback: Rich Eisen stepped in to do SportsCenter on Monday night for the first time in 22 years. The intro had a classic look (and sound). Eisen closed by paying an emotional tribute to his longtime co-anchor, the late Stuart Scott.
Goalie goal: Connecticut native Alyssa Naeher notched a rare goalkeeper goal during the Chicago Stars’ 3-3 draw against the Seattle Reign on Monday.
On this day: In 1967, the Red Sox won a wild game against the Angels 12-11. Carl Yastrzemski went 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. The victory came in the middle of a Boston surge in the standings, with the Red Sox winning nine of 10 in the mid-August stretch.
Daily highlight: It was a big night for backup wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley, who made several quality catches for the Bengals in the preseason matchup with Washington, including a pair of acrobatic touchdown receptions.
Trivia answer: Brett Favre
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