Are the Patriots willing to pay up to acquire linebacker Beranrdrick McKinney?

The Patriots lost all four of their 2019 starting linebackers, either to free agency or to covid. There are someplace between 96 and 128 starting linebackers in the NFL and it's safe to say none of the current Patriots are ranked high that list. The 2020 patriots linebackers are either new to the team or been buried on the depth chart, so the Patriots don't know what they have.

The Patriots have money to play with, so who would they bring in? DPN'S Ray Rauth suggests a trade for Texans' linebacker Beranrdrick McKinney. Ray says he's a former 2nd round pick, who's coming off a down year and about to get paid six million dollars. 

Alright, so far sounds like possibly a 4th round pick could get him but then Ray drops his positional ranking. Ray describes him as very versatile and says "Pro football focus ranks him the 14th best linebacker in the NFL...", that makes him a linebacker one. 

The Texans have him locked up until the 2023 season, which he's slated to make $9 million that year.  Now as far as having a down year, I don't see that much of a difference but I'm not looking at analytics. He was in the backfield more in 2016 and 1017 than he has been over the past two seasons but otherwise he's down 9 solo tackles but only 4 combined tackles.

Before I look at his play style, maybe the Patriots can give up a third and a player for him to make the deal better but I see the Texans wanting a minimum of a second round pick. The Patriots are probably gonna have another bottom third pick again, so I don't agree with Ray that he will come cheap.

First I can see why Ray likes him. Here's a little bit about what Bleacher Report said. "PRO COMPARISON: Jamie Collins, New England Patriots

An impressive athlete with the skills to play inside or outside, McKinney and Jamie Collins are very similar weapons when looking at the X's and O's of their games."

McKinney is 6'4" 245 pounds, who runs a 4.5 forty time. CBS sports wrote about him, his "Value lies in his versatility and raw athleticism. He lines up all over the field for the Bulldogs, taking snaps and middle linebacker as well as rushing off either edge. His athleticism has been well documented, with McKinney reportedly clocking in the 4.5s and posting a 34-inch vertical leap..."

"Overly reliant on speed when rushing the quarterback, showing limited hand technique to defeat blocks once engaged. This issue comes into play not only when rushing the passer but also against the run where McKinney looks to slip past blockers rather than showing the aggression and strength to truly stack and shed. Not a sudden mover that lacks ideal range, causing him to struggle with coverage responsibilities.”

Lance Zierline of NFL.com said basically the same thing. McKinney was projected from what I have seen as a third round pick that the Texans reached on and it paid off for them. 

After everything I have read and seen, McKinney sounds like a high second or late first round pick, when it comes to trade value. What would the Patriots be willing to give up for a linebacker one and would the Texans be willing to help Belichick rebuild the Patriots. I don't know that this trade is within the Patriots price range.