It’s a new era in New England — again.

Under new coach Mike Vrabel, the Pats are again overhauling their football operations after a 4-13 season. Vrabel’s vision is now the franchise’s vision as they continue to rebuild, though the Patriots retained executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf to lead their personnel department. This offseason, the Patriots are projected to hold a league-leading $120 million in cap space, and four draft picks in the top 80, starting at No. 4 overall.

To put the Patriots back on track, the Herald is publishing a daily series with five offseason fixes that cover the draft, free agency and coaching.

No. 1: Sign Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin
No. 2: Draft and sign new offensive tackles
No. 3: Rebuild the pass rush

No. 4: Six potential trade candidates

The easiest way for the Patriots to spend their $130 million in cap space is through free agency. But sometimes the wisest way to acquire veteran players is via trade.

Typically, the league’s best players never actually hit the open market. Either their team makes it a priority to sign or franchise them before they hit free agency, or they realize they can acquire valuable draft capital in dealing them via trade.

A team needs to give up an asset to acquire a veteran player via trade, but sometimes that also provides some cap relief over signing a player via free agency since their signing bonus has already been paid out.

No trade can be completed until after the new league year begins on March 12, but teams can agree to a deal before that time.

Here are six potential trades that would make sense for the Patriots to explore.

WR A.J. Brown

For the second straight year, the Eagles’ offense ranked seventh in points and eight in total yards, but thanks to the acquisition of running back Saquon Barkley, they completely changed the formula of how they were scoring and moving down the field. In 2023, they ranked 21st in passing attempts and 16th in passing yards. This season, they were 32nd in passing attempts and 29th in yards.

Ideally, you’d like to have Barkley, Brown and Devonta Smith all on your team, but it might not be necessary to have three upper-echelon playmakers.

After Vrabel was hired, he spoke of the strong relationship he maintains with Brown from their days with the Titans.

He’s exactly what the Patriots’ offense needs if they don’t feel confident in acquiring a free-agent wide receiver like Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin.

The Patriots have Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk under contract for the 2025 season. That’s a decent starting point for a wide receiver corps, but ideally, the team would like to add one or two more difference-makers.

The No. 4 overall pick would be too steep to acquire Brown, but a future first or multiple Day 2 picks could get the deal done.

WR Deebo Samuel

Samuel, like Brown, was a member of the 2019 NFL Draft class. Patriots fans might not need to be reminded that N’Keal Harry was drafted over both players. Whoops.

Samuel is not as productive or consistent as Brown at this point in their careers, but he would also immediately become the Patriots’ top pass-catching option.

He hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiving season since 2021, but Samuel still provides versatility as a pass-catcher and ball-carrier, which new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could have some fun with.

A release doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility here. Sending a mid-to-late round pick should be able to get a deal done for Samuel.

WR Garrett Wilson

If a young wide receiver is going to get traded, it will typically happen after his third NFL season, since it presents a crossroads for his team as they decide whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option in a contract.

That’s where Wilson sits now. ESPN’s Rich Cimini said last month that people in Wilson’s camp expect him to request a trade this offseason.

Wilson is still just 24 years old, and this isn’t the strongest draft class for top-end wide receivers. Pairing Wilson and Drake Maye could do wonders for both players’ careers.

The Patriots would pick up Wilson’s fifth-year option in his scenario, locking him in through the 2026 season and likely sign him to a contract extension, as well.

Acquiring Wilson would likely require the Patriots to send a future first-round pick or multiple Day 2 picks to the Jets.

WR D.K. Metcalf

The Seahawks need cap relief and could choose to free it up by trading Metcalf, another member of the 2019 NFL Draft class who’s still just 27 years old.

Metcalf would fill a major need for the Patriots at the “X” receiver position and immediate become their best pass-catcher. He has an affordable salary of just $18 million but would likely want an extension to come with any type of trade.

The price tag for Metcalf would likely be less than what it would require for the Patriots to land Brown or Wilson, simply because of the Seahawks’ cap situation.

DT Jeffrey Simmons

The Titans defensive tackle reacted positively to the news that his former defensive line coach, Terrell Williams, was hired by the Patriots as their new defensive coordinator, tweeting, “Wow! So happy for Big T man! You deserve it Coach! Congrats to you and your family!”

Wow! So happy for Big T man! You deserve it Coach! Congrats to you and your family! https://t.co/6JtTVvRMTZ

— Jeffery Simmons (@GrindSimmons94) January 22, 2025

Simmons, 27, was drafted by Vrabel in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. If acquired via trade, he’d come with a three-year, $62 million contract, which is a bargain for a player of his level.

Simmons caused havoc for the Patriots in their matchup this season. The Patriots’ defensive line needs all of the help they can get.

If the Titans make Simmons available, the Patriots should jump at the opportunity to acquire him. It wouldn’t be cheap, however.

OT Evan Neal

The 2022 first-round pick hasn’t lived up to his pedigree three years into his NFL career. Despite offensive line struggles, the Giants didn’t even play Neal until Week 10.

The Patriots need all of the help, bodies and talent they can get on the offensive line. Even with his struggles, Neal would provide an upgrade at right tackle. It’s also possible that a move inside to guard could help Neal get his career back on track.

Acquiring Neal via trade would be a low-risk move the potential for a high payoff.