FOXBORO, Mass. — A handful of New England Patriots players likely wondered whether they would be moved ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. However, after making a minor move the previous week, Eliot Wolf and company stood pat at the deadline, neither buying nor selling. On Wednesday, multiple Patriots reacted to not being traded before the deadline.
Patriots Trade Deadline Reaction
Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn, Tyquan Thornton, Davon Godchaux, Jonathan Jones, and Kyle Dugger were all mentioned. In the end, all stayed in New England.
The Patriots reportedly even received calls on star sophomore defenders Christian Gonzalez and Keion White. Gonzalez laughed off the rumors before Wednesday’s practice.
“Nah, I knew I was gonna be here — I’m good,” Gonzalez said after Pro Football Network asked him about the trade chatter. Gonzalez added trade discussions are “above” his pay grade when asked whether he had a conversation with head coach Jerod Mayo before the deadline.
Christian Gonzalez on whether he had any uncertainty about his Patriots future after his name popped up in trade rumors:
"Nah, I knew I was gonna be here. I'm good."
Said it was "above" him when asked whether he had any conversation with Jerod Mayo about the rumors. pic.twitter.com/Spz1LDD8rn
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) November 6, 2024
Bourne has been named in rumors periodically since arriving in New England in 2021. The veteran receiver now is relieved to be freed of pre-deadline distractions.
“It feels good that I’m here and this is where they want me,” he said on Wednesday. ” … Now I can really focus. You’re always focused, but for (the deadline) to be gone, it feels good.”
In recent weeks, Osborn sounded like someone eager to leave the Patriots. But he was careful with his words while meeting with reporters on Wednesday.
“I’m doing good,” Osborn said when asked about his post-deadline mindset. “At this point, I’m here right now and excited to be here.”
Was Osborn surprised he wasn’t traded?
“I can’t really control that stuff,” said Osborn, who added the Patriots haven’t provided him any clarity about his role in the offense. “I don’t know stuff that’s going on with phone calls. … I’m just ready for Sunday.”
The Patriots currently have seven wideouts on their 53-man roster. It wouldn’t be surprising to see at least one released in the near future.
Why Didn’t the Patriots Make any Deadline Trades?
Well, first of all, they did make two notable trades before the deadline.
In August, New England sent Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons in a deal that now looks like a home run. And, a week before the deadline, the Patriots traded Joshua Uche to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
As for the deadline inactivity, the Patriots simply didn’t receive any compelling offers.
“I’m not sure,” Mayo said Wednesday when asked why the Patriots didn’t make any trades. “For us, it’s about value. It’s about thinking about the present and also about the future.”
LIVE: Jerod Mayo Press Conference 11/6: https://t.co/QJRbBeJMEP
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 6, 2024
A pair of NFL insiders offered insight shortly before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.
From Josina Anderson: “It takes two sides to make a deal & the Patriots aren’t going to give away players like Christian Gonzalez, Keion White, Davon Godcheaux or Kyle Dugger who teams have been asking for, per source.”
From The Athletic’s Jeff Howe: “The Patriots have told teams they’re open for business with a handful of veterans, particularly those on expiring contracts, per sources. The question is how much of a reset is worth it when they’re trying to establish momentum for 2025 when those vets will only net late picks.”
The Patriots were in a tough spot before the deadline. It would’ve been easy to move veterans, especially those on expiring contracts, for added draft capital. But New England also had to be mindful of not undermining the winning culture it’s trying to instill in a young, rebuilding locker room led by rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
Did the Patriots make the right call? That remains to be seen, but it’s hard to fault them for sitting this one out.