Could The Patriots Make A Surprise Trade?

On Tuesday Heavy.com released an article about trading Cam Newton. They listed two possibilities to trade with. My first reaction was no chance in hell. Yesterday I wrote an article saying the Patriots would stick with Newton until they were eliminated from playoff contention. 

At the moment, four losses should eliminate the Patriots. I foresee the Patriots going two and three over the next five games. The defense can carry them on a ten game win streak but the passing game isn't good enough. Don't bring up the Rams, they're giving up 360 yards passing to everyone. 

The more I thought about it, the more I thought maybe heavy.com is on to something. So I looked at what the two teams that were mentioned had to offer.

The Bears are paying Nick Foles a boat load of money and all they really have is Allen Robinson to part with. The Patriots are trying to roll money into next season and Robinson is going to be too rich for the Patriots' blood.

The other place heavy.com suggested trading Newton to was Dallas. Both of the Cowboys quarterbacks are out and Dallas is still in the playoff hunt. However, unlike the Bears who have a starter, the Cowboys are down to a third string quarterback. 

The Patriots could fish for a draft pick for Newton, in which the team could use the picks. However, even with a loss to the Bills the Sunday the Patriots are still in the playoff and trading Newton for a draft pick doesn't make sense if they want to still compete this year.

The Patriots need a pass catcher and not another third or fourth stringer. So that rules out Cedrick Wilson. I don't see Dallas parting ways with a center either. But there is 1 player the Patriots could target. 

Michael Gallup seems like a good fit. He's a former 2018 3rd round draft pick under contract until 2021.Gallup's contact fits Belichick's style and his contract for the year was only little under one million dollars.

Gallup stands 6'1" and weights 190 pounds. He's a smaller X receiver who ran 4.51 with a 7.09 three cone. He ran a 4.45 at his forty at his pro day, so he has potential as an X unlike Harry. 

The Patriots are loaded with Y and Z receivers, they don't have a real X receiver. For the season, Gallup has 19 catches for 371 yards and a touchdown. 

Belichick wants to stick with Newton but when he's passing at the same level as an inexperienced Jarrett Stidham, shipping Newton off after the Bills game, could make sense. Stidham could gain experience and develop, while the Patriots would gain a needed pass catcher and stay competitive this year. 

It's a only a speculation but trading Newton to Dallas might be more realistic than orginally thought. The downside about waiting until after the Bills game is Newton can continue to implode and Dalton could be cleared. There's only a few days left, with the trade dead line fast approaching.