Over the last few weeks, the idea of the Patriots trading out of the No. 4 overall pick has become increasingly less solid, despite the limited quarterbacks available and the unlikelihood that their favorite prospects, Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter, will no longer be on the board.
The hope was they could trade down a few spots to feel better about inevitably taking a left tackle instead, but the latest intel from NFL insiders has suggested teams are not willing to trade up for any player, crushing the new regime’s dream of getting a haul for a top-5 pick.
It seemed something even fans would be comfortable with if the Patriots’ eventual first-round pick is LSU’s left tackle Will Campbell. Analysts feel the No. 4 pick is a bit high to take him, so trading down would be ideal, but that has seemed like a long shot until a news dump on Friday afternoon.
That’s when it was revealed that Saints’ quarterback Derek Carr is dealing with a nagging hand injury from last season, and his status for the 2025 season remains unclear. It could force the Saints to take a quarterback they believe can be a starter in his place, even if they are on the hook for a massive payday for Carr in the meantime.
The #Saints restructured Derek Carr’s contract this offseason, lowering his 2025 cap hit but pushing his 2026 cap number to a massive $69.2M.
Not an ideal situation. https://t.co/Fn1tqyp1Tl
https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1910813650291663332
If that is their decision, the Patriots now have their ideal trade partner in the first round.
The Patriots could (probably) get a nice deal done with the Saints for the No. 4 pick and address a weak position in the process
Because New Orleans doesn’t seem sold on their backup quarterback being their eventual franchise player, there’s a good chance they’ll take more interest in Colorado’s Shadeur Sanders. For some time in the offseason, he was expected to be a top-5 pick, but that doesn’t appear to be in the cards anymore, unless the Saints want to ensure they snag him.
If the Browns and Giants pass on Sanders, they wouldn’t have to worry about the Patriots or Jaguars taking him. However, the Raiders at No. 6 and the Jets at No. 7 would be a concern, making trading with the Patriots the ideal position to select their next quarterback.
It has sparked a lot of conversation about what could be included in that trade, with many believing a swap of first-rounders, with the Patriots moving down to No. 9, with the Saints including their No. 40 pick, and maybe a 2026 third would be an ideal offer.
But they could also include a player, either additionally or instead of a pick or two, with the most desirable being wide receiver Chris Olave. He has already hinted at wanting off the Saints, which might become more prevalent now with Carr’s injury news, creating an opening for the Patriots to ask about his availability.
The Saints might be desperate enough for a quarterback to include the 24-year-old to get a deal done, even if it disrupts their offense in the immediate future. It would be an excellent trade for the Patriots, though, especially under the assumption they miss out on drafting Travis Hunter.
A receiving corps led by Stefon Diggs and Olave is a dream come true for Drake Maye, and allows the Patriots to still get a young receiver in the door to grow with their quarterback.
The biggest question is whether the Saints would even entertain the idea of including him in the trade. If they decide he’s off limits, the Patriots should still seriously consider trading down for the extra second rounder and future mid-round pick. Although it would be better to include a player like Olave, adding more draft capital would be hard to say no to.
