Early reviews are in, and the Patriots are deemed one of the most successful teams of the 2025 offseason due to their impressive free agency additions and nabbing some presumed steals in this year's draft. It's a feat that many didn't feel would be possible for new head coach Mike Vrabel, who walked into an undesirable situation after another disastrous season last year.
However, his experience from his time with the Titans, coupled with the determination of many in the Patriots' front office to avoid replicating last year's mess, led the new regime to assemble a roster that is already projected to be playoff caliber. That's a great position to be in at this point in the offseason, with plenty of cap space available to bolster the roster further if needed.
That's something that at least one analyst from NFL.com wants to see before the season begins, and it's hard for Patriots fans to argue against the idea.
The Patriots could easily put their defense over the top by pulling off a blockbuster trade for disgruntled pass rusher
Because there are plenty of big names who appear to be up for grabs via trade as the offseason heads into the summer, the Patriots were named as the ideal destination for the Bengals to send Trey Hendrickson, who has been seeking a contract extension after another unbelievable season.
Kevin Patra listed that trade as the one he wants to see before the 2025 season begins, stating the need for the Patriots to have a legitimate dominant figure on the defensive line to put the group on the map even further, noting their available cap space to pull it off.
"The Bengals are unlikely to be interested in moving Hendrickson, as that's not how they roll. However, if there is a divorce, New England is a good new partner. Mike Vrabel could use a legit No. 1 edge to anchor his defense, and the Pats still have cap space. Sure, they've shelled out a lot on D already this offseason, but they should continue to take big swings while Drake Maye is still on a rookie deal. Adding Hendrickson would get them a big stride closer to threatening the Bills' divisional dominance."
This isn't the first time that Hendrickson has been connected to New England this offseason. Although most of what has been discussed to this point has only been fantasy trades, there is a reason why a dominant pass rusher like him is considered a prime candidate for the team to trade for.
Part of that is exactly what Patra said: because although Vrabel and Co. added some stellar names through free agency and the draft, there are still some who question if they made enough upgrades at EDGE to be dramatically better than last year. That makes the addition of Hendrickson an absolute no-brainer.
It's a trade that would dominate headlines for months, especially since it would not be cheap to accomplish, but it would also, as Patra said, threaten the Bills' dominance over the division moving forward. Even if Hendrickson isn't the ideal age that the Patriots are aiming for in rebuilding the roster, as he is 30 years old, it's difficult to completely negate a trade based on that factor alone.
Hendrickson has hit his stride over the last four years, earning Pro Bowl honors in each season and being the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. Just last season, he recorded 46 combined tackles, 19 for a loss, 36 quarterback hits, and 17.5 sacks. That kind of production has been long missed in Foxboro, and Hendrickson could be the greatest way to fill that void.
Will the Patriots even consider a trade of this magnitude? It's hard to say, but there are more reasons to inquire than not to at this point.
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