In the lead-up to the 2024 trade deadline, there was a widespread expectation that the New England Patriots would be active sellers, offloading some of their players for valuable draft picks. Linebacker Joshua Uche was indeed traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, but that was the only action we saw from the Patriots at the deadline.

Despite swirling rumors about potential trades involving players like cornerback Jonathan Jones or wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn, the reported interest in these players was tepid at best.

This lack of interest was surprising given the Patriots’ apparent willingness to settle for minimal draft returns. Uche’s departure left many expecting more moves, but in the end, he was the sole player traded.

This indecision left New England with unorchestrated roster moves. Receivers like Tyquan Thornton found themselves sporadically inactive, ultimately leading to his release prior to the Patriots’ Week 11 game against the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday.

Here’s where it gets interesting – why didn’t the Patriots trade Tyquan Thornton before releasing him? It seemed logical that the market was cold, but fresh reports paint a different picture. NFL insider Jeremy Fowler disclosed that Thornton received interest from “more than a dozen teams” after being let go, making his eventual decision to join the Chiefs’ practice squad all the more confusing for New England fans.

“Tyquan Thornton plans to sign with the Chiefs practice squad,” Fowler relayed, noting that several teams, including the New Orleans Saints, were vying for his signature. Choosing the defending champs must have been quite the draw.

But if such interest existed, it begs the question: why didn’t the Patriots secure even a late-round draft pick for Thornton before the deadline? It seems unlikely that all those interested teams were unwilling to part with a sixth or seventh-round pick. Was it a miscalculation by the Patriots, perhaps holding out for more than what Thornton could realistically command despite being a second-round pick back in 2022?

Ultimately, it looks like a missed opportunity for the new regime in Foxborough. With a focus on building through the draft, even a seemingly insignificant late-round pick could have been valuable. Those picks can add up and, when packaged strategically, offer the chance to move up in the draft, providing much greater value over time.