While it’s still unclear if the New England Patriots are playoff contenders or pretenders, they have several players of interest to contending teams.
The Pats have received multiple calls from teams interested in their quartet of wide receivers, their starting tailback from last season and their 2018 first-round pick, according to multiples reports.
Sources: Teams have called #Patriots about RB Damien Harris and S Jabrill Peppers before the Nov. 1 NFL trade deadline. They are not shopping them, however.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) October 27, 2022
NE has also received calls on WRs Jakobi Meyers, DeVante Parker, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, as @PhilAPerry said.
While Bourne and offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn have been at the forefront of trade speculation for weeks, per NFL.com’s Mike Giardi, Harris and Peppers are new to the rumor mill.
Rhamondre Stevenson’s emergence (98 carries, 487 yards, 4 TDs) has made Harris expendable, while Peppers, who’s a depth safety for New England behind Devin McCoutry and Adrian Phillips, has registered double-digit tackles and is a key special teams contributor.
Myers is New England’s leading receiver with 33 targets, 26 receptions and 355 yards, while Parker (27 targets, 15 receptions, 321 yards), Agholor (20 targets, 14 receptions, 225 yards) and Bourne (14 targets, 11 receptions, 156 yards) are attractive trade assets for WR-needy teams such as the Packers, Raiders and Ravens.
Multiple teams have called the #Patriots regarding their WRs. Kendrick Bourne has been in trade discussions for awhile, and now @Schultz_Report adds that Nelson Agholor has also drawn interest from NFL teams.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 26, 2022
Bourne is playing only 29% of the snaps this year, Agholor plays 46%. pic.twitter.com/2dJuO7oVws
“Absolutely, I want to be here,” Bourne told the Boston Herald. “There’s no doubt about it. Yeah, it hasn’t been my best year so far or whatever the naysayers say, but I’m happy here. I’m just playing my role, like I said in the beginning (of the season). It’s about being patient.”
“Can’t control it,” Agholor said of trade speculation, via ESPN. “It’s the NFL, teams all around the league trying to get better, so hey, whatever happens, happens. My focus is to be a New England Patriot and do what I need to do while I’m here.”
Bourne and Wynn could reportedly could fetch as high as a third-round pick, while the rest are expected to bring back mid-round draft picks.
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