Should Patriots Consider This Hypothetical Position Trade With Washington

Following Tom Brady’s decision to leave the team, the quarterback position was expected to be the greatest area of uncertainty for the Patriots entering the 2020 NFL season.

There’s still much to be figured out at signal-caller for New England, but it seems QB is not the main concern in Foxboro when it comes to position.

The Patriots’ current linebacker group is definitely not something to brag about. Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts all found new homes in free agency. Dont’a Hightower elected to opt out of the 2020 season altogether. New England is now down to the likes of Ja’Whaun Bentley and Chase Winovich to lead its LB corps, while rookies Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings and Cassh Maluia could be thrust into prominent roles for the get-go.

Sheil Kapadia With A Suggestion For Position Trade

The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia recently came up with a suggestion that the Patriots swing a trade for a linebacker. He listed six deals he believes should go down prior to Week 1. This includes New England sending a sixth-round pick to Washington for Ryan Anderson.

According to Kapadia, the hypothetical trade makes sense for both sides. Anderson, a 2017 second-round pick, logged four sacks and 44 total tackles last season. He’s set to make roughly $1.2 million this season before hitting free agency next spring.

Washington would be able to receive an asset in exchange for Anderson. He could have his playing time decreased in 2020 as the franchise transitions to Ron Rivera’s defense.

Teams might hesitate to make trades given the current state of the NFL. But it’s not something that we’d rule out, especially when it comes to Bill Belichick. The Patriots head coach is always looking for ways to improve his team. He’s proved in the past he’s not afraid to make big, last-minute decisions.