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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patriots trade targets: Top options if team deals early-round picks
The New England Patriots made significant upgrades to their roster during the offseason, but executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf wouldn't rule out making more ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Wolf was asked at Monday's practice whether he would consider trading a first-or second-round pick to add talent to the team. "Sure," the 43-year-old replied. Why would Wolf contemplate such a move? "Just doing what's best for the team," Wolf explained. "If there's a player out there that we feel like can help us and it costs that, then we would consider doing that." The Patriots are uniquely positioned to target top players via trade. They are armed with a league-high $59.8 million in cap space, per so they could extend any player they acquire using an early-round selection. Which players might be the Patriots top targets if they do get aggressive? Here's a look at a few candidates they could pursue. Trey Hendrickson Hendrickson is widely known to be available as he and the Bengals remain in a contract stalemate. The Patriots are among the teams to have called the Bengals to check in on veteran pass rusher, according to NFL insider Armando Salguero. Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks last season with 17.5. He, along with offseason signees Milton Williams and Harold Landry III, would provide a shot in the arm to a Patriots defense that totaled a league-low 28 sacks in 2024. While Hendrickson would fit well in New England, a deal between the two parties doesn't appear close, as NFL insider Josina Anderson outlined. "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," Anderson reported. "The club continues to do due diligence by monitoring the market for Hendrickson." Perhaps that will change if Cincinnati's reported asking price for the 30-year-old – a 2026 first-round pick and a young defensive player, per The Athletic's Dianna Russini – drops. TREY HENDRICKSON LANDING SPOTS: Texans, Eagles among best fits Terry McLaurin The Patriots signed Stefon Diggs during the 2025 NFL offseason, and added depth at receiver during free agency and the draft. Still, New England could use more proven talent at the position and a true, No. 1 target for Drake Maye. McLaurin would qualify. The seven-year veteran has posted five consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and generated a career-high 13 touchdowns last season as Jayden Daniels' top target. Despite McLaurin's success, he and the Commanders haven't been able to agree on a long-term extension, which prompted him to request a trade. The Commanders are currently projected to have the fourth-most cap space in the NFL during the 2026 offseason. As such, they may eventually find a middle ground with McLaurin, who could earn a contract similar to the four-year, $92 million pact the Denver Broncos reached with Courtland Sutton during the offseason. But if Washington is reluctant to give the soon-to-be 30-year-old McLaurin that type of contract, the Patriots could swoop in and target him to provide Maye a consistent weapon. Micah Parsons Like Hendrickson, Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys are embroiled in a contract dispute ahead of the 2025 NFL season. That led the two-time All-Pro first-teamer, who has recorded at least 12 sacks in all four of his NFL seasons, to request a trade out of Dallas. Will Jerry Jones capitulate to Parsons' demands? The Cowboys owner hasn't yet shown willingness to do while the team has insisted the two parties will eventually work something out. However, if the relationship becomes irreparable, Parsons would fetch the Cowboys a king's ransom on the trade market. There's little doubt the Patriots would be among the teams most interested in acquiring Parsons given their need for a long-term partner for Williams, a top interior rusher. Few teams would be as well-positioned as New England to send out draft capital for Parsons and give him a record-breaking contract. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who could Patriots target if they trade early-round picks?
CBS News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Patriots reportedly called Bengals about a Trey Hendrickson trade, but not close to any deals
Eliot Wolf said Monday the New England Patriots are open to make a trade ahead of the 2025 NFL season. While the Patriots are reportedly among the teams to reach out to the Bengals about a trade for disgruntled pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, no deal is close. Hendrickson and the Bengals have been locked in a contract stalemate this summer, as last season's NFL sacks leader wants a long-term contract that will pay him some big bucks. The Bengals have balked at giving it to Hendrickson, who will turn 31 during the upcoming season. With no resolution in sight, other teams have started to call the Bengals about potentially prying Hendrickson from Cincinnati. The Patriots are among the teams to inquire about a Hendrickson trade, according to NFL Insider Armando Salguero. But according to NFL Insider Josina Anderson, the asking price is too rich for New England's liking. "I'm told the New England Patriots currently feel the cost to acquire Bengals star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is 'too much,' per a league source as of Monday," Anderson posted to X on Tuesday. On Monday, The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported the Bengals are asking for a young defensive player and a 2026 first-round pick in return for Hendrickson. New England's executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf told reporters the team would be willing to part with a first- or second-round pick when he spoke with reporters Monday, but he'd only do so in for the right move. Given Hendrickson's age, his contact demands, and the trade package it would require to acquire him from Cincinnati, it sounds like the Patriots will sit this one out unless the Bengals lower their asking price. If the Bengals come down to a second-round pick, maybe the two teams could come to an agreement. Hendrickson isn't the only disgruntled NFL star out there at the moment. Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin and Dallas All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons are both looking for new contracts from their respective teams, with no real progress on either front. While it would cost quite a bit to acquire either player -- and even more to lock them up long term -- McLaurin or Parsons would look great in a Patriots uniform. But on Tuesday, Russini reported the Patriots are not close to a trade for anyone at this time. "The Patriots -- like every team -- are constantly looking for possible ways to improve their roster. 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 reported.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Patriots Reportedly Open to Trading 'High Draft Pick' for Right Player
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The New England Patriots arguably had the best offseason across the NFL. The additions of head coach Mike Vrabel, receiver Stefon Diggs and so many others have the Patriots in an excellent position to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021. New England may not be done adding, either, as revealed Monday by executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: General Manager Eliot Wolf of the New England Patriots speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: General Manager Eliot Wolf of the New England Patriots speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, speaking to the media during Monday's practice, Wolf revealed that the team would be willing to trade a first or second-round pick if it meant acquiring a player to help make the Patriots a better team. "Sure - just doing what's best for the team. If there's a player out there that we feel like can help us and it costs that, then we would consider doing that," he told reporters. This late in the offseason, there aren't too many superstar caliber players available for trade. However, nobody ever said there aren't any, as there as two very notable players that have recently requested trades. Those two players are Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin and Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. McLaurin and Hendrickson have both grown frustrated over contract talks in the past several weeks and have asked to be traded. Eliot Wolf confirms the Patriots will monitor the trade market with stars around the NFL (Terry McLaurin, Trey Hendrickson, etc.) involved in speculation. Wolf specifically said the Patriots would feel comfortable dealing a 1st or 2nd round pick to help this year's team. — Sean T. McGuire (@BySeanMcGuire) August 18, 2025 McLaurin would give the receiver room a true superstar that it is lacking and Hendrickson would do the same for the defensive line unit. Either of the two going to New England would almost certainly make the Patriots playoff contenders. It is unclear how open the Commanders or Bengals are to trading either of their superstar players. If the time comes, though, New England certainly has the capital to pull a deal off. More NFL: Packers Linked to Possible Micah Parsons Trade By NFL Insider
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Why it wouldn't make sense for Patriots to trade a top pick for Hendrickson, McLaurin
With one final preseason game and seven days remaining before the New England Patriots cut 38 players and establish their initial 53-man roster, executive VP of player personnel Eliot Wolf added some intrigue on Monday, acknowledging the Pats would 'absolutely' be interested in trading for big-name reinforcements before Week 1. Advertisement Wolf even said the Patriots would be willing to part with a first- or second-round pick in a trade if it made the team better, an exciting potential move for a rebuilding team. And yet … with the Patriots less than three weeks from kicking off a season with good vibes and high hopes thanks to new coach Mike Vrabel, it doesn't make much sense for the Patriots to trade for either of the two biggest names potentially on the trading block right now: Washington's Terry McLaurin and Cincinnati's Trey Hendrickson. (The odds of the Cowboys actually trading Micah Parsons seem so low it's probably not worth considering.) Success for the Patriots this season isn't going to be defined by wins. They've been victorious in just eight of their last 35 games. Because of that, expectations are manageable for Vrabel in his first season. What matters more is that he builds a culture, he gets the team to play disciplined football and second-year quarterback Drake Maye takes a meaningful step forward. Those are the biggest factors in determining whether the 2025 season is a success. Trading for McLaurin or Hendrickson wouldn't account for massive boosts in any of those areas, although each would cost quite a bit. The idea is intriguing, of course. Wide receiver and edge rusher are arguably the Patriots' two biggest needs. Eliot Wolf says the Patriots would be willing to trade away a 1st or 2nd-round pick if it was best for the team. Worth noting with big names out there still looking for deals. Patriots are at the top of the NFL in available cap space (if you care about that sort of thing). — Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 18, 2025 But trading for either of them makes more sense for a team closer to competing for a Super Bowl, not a Patriots team that isn't expected to compete for a conference title in 2025. The Pats have the money and cap space to improve the roster next offseason, and sticking to their guns now gives their young players a chance to make an impression this season. Maybe rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams plays great and lessens the need at that position. Maybe Keion White steps up as an edge rusher. Maybe K'Lavon Chaisson's strong offseason turns into a breakout performance. Or maybe rookie Bradyn Swinson looks like a Day 3 steal on the edge. It's not just that trading for McLaurin or Hendrickson would cost a valuable draft pick, but more that the whole reason they want trades in the first place is because they want top-of-market money and multiyear deals. When you have a quarterback on a rookie contract, like the Patriots do, that's the time to spend big on veterans to support the QB. But you'd ideally do that for younger players — i.e., not in their 30s — you'd be acquiring more than three weeks before the start of an important season. McLaurin turns 30 next month, meaning his prime is probably behind him. Hendrickson turns 31 in December. If the Patriots were in a great cap position and had a roster likely to yield double-digit wins, perhaps one would make sense. Advertisement But this late in the offseason, it can be difficult to mix in a new player, especially considering McLaurin and Hendrickson haven't been practicing. (McLaurin was activated off the PUP list over the weekend.) A smaller move — like via the waiver wire next week — that brought in a depth linebacker, tight end or defensive tackle might make more sense. But Wolf insisted Monday that he and his staff would consider a trade for a big-name player. 'We're talking to all 31 teams and trying to do what's best for us,' Wolf said. 'I think those things are often a lot more complicated than the fans and some others would like to make you believe. But if there is something we think can help us, we'd definitely be open to it.' As for why the Patriots would be willing to use a first- or second-round pick, Wolf said, 'Just doing what's best for the team. If there's a player out there we feel can help us, and it costs that, then we would do that.' But at the risk of throwing cold water on the hot takes that resulted from Wolf's comments, the Patriots aren't likely to make a big trade before the season begins. So far, the group of edge rushers has had some ups and downs, but the Patriots want to see what they have, especially opposite Harold Landry with White, Chaisson and Swinson all competing for reps. Their wide receiver corps isn't going to scare many teams and likely needs reinforcements next offseason, but giving a 30-year-old receiver like McLaurin $30 million a year seems unwise even with plenty of cap space to burn. Wolf's comments were a bit surprising and at least left open the door for something more exciting. He could've easily said the Patriots are excited about the team they have, but that they'll do their due diligence on any potentially available player. But even if Wolf kept the possibility open, it doesn't seem likely — or make much sense — for the Patriots to take a big swing on a high-profile trade ahead of Week 1. (Photos: Jeff Dean and Maddie Meyer / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Forbes
2 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Patriots Executive Shares Perspective On ‘Draftable' Efton Chism III
Eliot Wolf was in the room as the New England Patriots made 11 selections during the 2025 NFL draft. The executive vice president of player personnel knows that a wide receiver out of Eastern Washington wasn't one of them. But Efton Chism III has separated himself since agreeing to terms as a rookie free agent in April. And prior to then as an Associated Press first-team FCS All-American out of the Big Sky Conference. 'Efton's a guy who went to two All-Star games,' Wolf told reporters prior to Monday's training camp practice outside Gillette Stadium. 'He went to the Hula Bowl and then the East-West, and no one really guarded him at either. That's when he came on my radar a little bit.' Chism finished his Eastern Washington career with 346 receptions for 3,852 yards and 37 touchdowns. The 5-foot-10, 198-pound slot broke the school record with 120 catches last fall and appeared in 53 games in all. 'Our scouts obviously liked him, as well, but I didn't watch him until after those All-Star games and definitely thought he was a draftable talent,' Wolf said. 'Maybe didn't have the 40-yard dash that was applicable to get him drafted, but you know, the game is played between the white lines and he's been a phenomenal worker.' Chism was timed running the 40 in 4.71 seconds at his pro day. He clocked the three-cone drill in 6.77 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.06 seconds. That agility testing placed among the elite in terms of Relative Athletic Score. It's part of what has translated in August. No member of the preseason roster has been targeted more through two games. And after leading the way for wide receivers coach Todd Downing's depth chart with six catches, 50 yards and a touchdown against the Washington Commanders, it was more of the same against the Minnesota Vikings. Last Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium saw Chism find open space early and often with the second offense. It also saw the 23-year-old break multiple tackles and find the end zone again. All six throws that veteran backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs sent his direction were caught. Those throws became 71 yards by halftime. New England's final scoring drive going into intermission featured four completions to Chism, with three arriving on third down. 'Everyone talks about how he's been an overachiever and this and that. I see that differently,' added Wolf. 'I think he's got tremendous football instincts. I think he's tremendous at the top of the route. And his play strength for a shorter guy is very good. So, we're excited about what he can bring to our team.'
