The New England Patriots have had a busy offseason, making several high-profile acquisitions like Stefon Diggs and Milton Williams. They also hired Mike Vrabel, sending a strong signal that last season’s 4-13 effort under coach Jerod Mayo wasn’t good enough.
While the Patriots secured several roster upgrades, they also came up short in their pursuit of a pair of blockbuster trades.
According to Sportskeeda’s NFL insider Tony Pauline, the Patriots were also trying to trade for Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro Maxx Crosby and Cleveland Browns former Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.
“Moving back to the pass-rusher front, sources believe that if the Patriots pull a shocker and move away from selecting one of the offensive tackles with the fourth selection, it will be for a pass rusher,” Pauline wrote. “They point to offseason desires to trade for Maxx Crosby or Myles Garrett.”
Neither Crosby nor Garrett wound up getting traded. Both received high-dollar contract extensions locking them into their locations until the season kicks off.
A pass-rusher likely means targeting Pennsylvania State University’s Abdul Carter or possibly even the University of Michigan’s Mason Graham. Though, Carter, as an edge rusher, is likely the better fit than Graham, who plays in the trenches, much like their new starting defensive tackle, Milton Williams.
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However, the Patriots likely just want to come away with the better player, as finding a home for either Carter or Graham won’t be difficult for a team that finished with the NFL’s fewest sacks in 2024.
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