ESPN's Adam Schefter certainly likes to stir the pot when it comes to the NFL trade deadline as the analyst made several suggestions for upgrades to teams looking to contend for the playoffs. The New England Patriots are one of those teams as they sit undefeated on the season. The Patriots have had a thriving offense, but there is certainly room for improvement after injuries which is where the team could target the trade deadline for help.
According to Schefter along with sources for the Detroit Free Press and the Boston Herald, the Patriots would be wise to at least inquire about a trade for Calvin Johnson. The chances of this happening are slim to none, but it certainly should not be ruled out if the Patriots were to come with a good offer. The Detroit Lions are currently looking poised to earn the No.1 overall draft pick this spring and with coaching changes on the horizon, dismantling the roster is not the worst move to make. Johnson is their most valuable player on the roster and could get Detroit a nice draft pick in return.
Do the Patriots need Johnson? Right now the team is relying on Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski and then inconsistency. Danny Amendola has made a few good plays. Scott Chandler has been inactive. The issue is that the injury to Brandon LaFell took away another deep threat for Brady. He really only has Edelman to work with which is why the idea of adding Johnson would make the team unbeatable. LaFell has returned to the field after an injury kept him out, but he has a lot improving to do. Johnson and Edelman running the sidelines with the running back tandem of LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis in the backfield would be a welcomed lineup for quarterback Tom Brady to work with.
Again, the chances Johnson is moved are slim. According to the Detroit Free Press, general manager Martin Mayhew believes that the Lions are better with Johnson than without him regardless of the team's record and personnel changes. So if Johnson is not an option, could someone like Anquan Boldin or Roddy White be a target for the Patriots?
According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the 49ers have no plans of trading Boldin regardless of how uncertain his future with the franchise is. The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting White is going nowhere at the trade deadline for the Atlanta Falcons. That essentially takes away any options for the Patriots if they feel the need to add a body.
The situation is that the Patriots do not really need to add someone. Brady is once again proving he can make something out of nothing for the franchise. Instead, the Patriots will aim to get LaFell back quickly as the receiver admits he is still not totally healthy, but is getting up to speed in the offense. That should be enough of an improvement for the Patriots and prevent them from making another other moves.
"[LaFell] had three days of practice prior to the [New York] Jets game and you know, went in there and played quite a few snaps in his first game," offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said, via WEEI.com. "I think any player that hasn't had an opportunity to practice and play much, there's kind of a time factor there for him to feel comfortable and to get back into the swing of things. I thought he did a nice job of getting acclimated into the game last night in a lot of different areas."