Bill Belichick had a knack for putting together deals ad the NFL trade deadline, even when acquisitions were very rare in the league. And he grew such an impressive reputation for trading that teams were rumored to avoid him, because it would inevitably look like a failure for his trade partner.
Even when Belichick was trading away players at the deadline, the New England Patriots coach seemed to somehow with the deal. This isn’t to say teams can’t get fair assets in exchange for a star. But let’s look at the example of linebacker Jamie Collins, who went to the Browns in exchange for a third-round pick in 2016. Collins was a good player for Cleveland, but he is now in his third stint with the Patriots — and this go-round (along with the last one) has him playing on a humble, one-year contract. Oh yeah, the Patriots also won the Super Bowl after trading Collins.
It’s that sort of bizarre magic which defined Belichick’s career: Get rid of a star at the core of the defense (and, honestly, for below-market value), then win a Super Bowl.
There are, of course, notable acquisitions that have helped the Patriots make a deep run into the playoffs: linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Jonathan Casillas and Akeem Ayers, cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks. Belichick acquired these players for peanuts at the deadline and turned them into crucial role players on the defense.
The problem is that Belichick’s recent history at the trade deadline — much like his recent history with the NFL draft — is less impressive. In 2020, Belichick added receiver Mohamed Sanu. That was a disaster, with the receiver barely playing before hurting his ankle, an injury from which Sanu never seemed to recover. In 2021, Belichick threw a late-round pick at the Dolphins to acquire Isaiah Ford, who spent just a few weeks in New England. He made no meaningful contribution.
If Belichick can re-spark his talent for trade-deadline acqusitions, much like he did with drafting in 2021 (Mac Jones, Christian Barmore and Rhamondre Stevenson), the Patriots might just continue on their trajectory for the playoffs, with two straight wins, including a big victory over the Los Agneles Chagers in Week 8. There’s no doubt New England can use more talent, whether it’s depth at cornerback, linebacker, defensive line or, yes, even a top-end wide receiver. I could rattle of a few names that I think could help. But the truth is that Belichick does best at finding the players that no one else can identify as a winning acquisition. The coach nabs a castoff or a misfit who didn’t fit in their organization — only to nestle nicely into a specific role for the Patriots.
It might be more difficult because the Patriots lost director of football research Ernie Adams and director of player personnel Nick Caserio, who surely played a role in New England’s success at finding good value. Those two men seemed to prep the ingredients for Belichick’s secret sauce.
But now would be a great time for the Patriots to do what they’ve done so many times. If they want to make a late playoff run, they’ll need reinforcements, particularly after they traded away Stephon Gilmore. Rookie cornerback Shaun Wade, who they acquired from the Ravens before the season, could be a help when he gets back from his concussion. But perhaps New England find more help. Perhaps they can keep adding to a roster that seems poised to make an improbable postseason push after starting 2-4.
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