Patriots’ Davon Godchaux reportedly ‘shocked’ over trade rumors
"This is the business of the NFL. This is what we signed up for.”
The rebuilding Patriots traded Josh Uche to the Chiefs on Monday afternoon.
But Uche may not be the only Patriots player who will be sent packing ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline on Nov. 5.
Over the weekend, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini listed both veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and wide receiver Kendrick Bourne as two potential trade targets for a banged-up 49ers team.
“I’ve been told to keep an eye on the Patriots — who will listen to any proposal — with run-stuffing interior defensive lineman Davon Godchaux and ex-Niners wide receiver Kendrick Bourne among the possible targets,” Russini wrote.
That report stood as surprising news to Godchaux on Sunday.
“Yeah, I was shocked, but at the end of the day, this is a business,” Godchaux told Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald after New England’s 25-22 win over the Jets. “I mean, (expletive) happens all the time. I’m sure some guys think they could be on the team for a long time, and something happens. This is the business of the NFL. This is what we signed up for.”
Godchaux, who signed a two-year contract extension worth up to $21 million earlier this year, has been one of the few steady veterans on New England’s defense this season. The 29-year-old nose tackle has been a consistent run stuffer during his four seasons in Foxborough.
With San Francisco losing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave for potentially the entire 2024 season with a torn triceps, a player like Godchaux would be a welcome addition in the Bay Area.
But Godchaux brushed aside talks of trade rumors during his discussion with Kyed.
“In the media, whatever happens, happens. I’m happy to be here,” Godchaux noted. “I’m happy to be a leader. I’m happy to be one of those big dogs in the front seven, but I can’t control outside noise. I’m here. Right now, I’m here where my feet are, and I’m here with New England Patriots. I’m happy to be here.”
Even with Uche’s trade on Monday, a 2-6 Patriots roster might be looking to sell even more pieces between now and Nov. 5 — especially if it lands New England more draft capital in the coming years.
“They’re open for business and they’ll listen on anything,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said on NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots Pregame Live on Sunday. “I think the ones you want to look at are players who might be on second contracts and deeper into their careers where it’s a little hard to see those guys being major pieces of the puzzle two or three years down the line when the program is where they would hope it would be.”
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