Every year around this time, it's the most popular question in BSJ member chats and on Twitter:
Who's going to be the surprise cut or trade for the Patriots?
There's always some name(s) that raise everyone's eyebrows.
Before we get into the candidates for this year's surprise, let's look back at the names that showed up in previous years:
[table id=64 /]
So with that as a backdrop, here are the players who could be on the chopping/trade block once training camp begins. We'll separate them into three categories: "Even Odds," "Longshots" and "Doubtful, But Can't Be Ruled Out."
EVEN ODDS
(Adam Richins for BSJ)RB Mike Gillislee
Argument for trade/release
Rex Burkhead
Jeremy Hill
Sony Michel
Argument against
TE Dwayne Allen
Argument for trade/release
Troy Niklas
Jacob Hollister
Will Tye
Argument against
Rob Gronkowski
RB Jeremy Hill
Argument for trade/release
Argument against
LeGarrette Blount
DT Malcom Brown
Argument for trade/release
Danny Shelton, Lawrence Guy, Vincent Valentine
Argument against
LONG SHOTS
(Adam Richins for BSJ)RG Shaq Mason
Argument for trade/release
Trey Flowers
Chandler Jones, Jamie Collins, Brandin Cooks
Argument against
any
(Adam Richins for BSJ)DE Trey Flowers
Argument for trade/release
by far
Bill Belichick
Argument against
WR Cordarrelle Patterson
Argument for trade/release:
Argument against
(Adam Richins for BSJ)WR Kenny Britt
Argument for trade/release:
Argument against
Chad Ochocinco
CB Jason McCourty
Argument for trade/release
Justin Coleman, Cre'von LeBlanc
Mike Hilton
Argument against
DOUBTFUL, BUT CAN'T BE RULED OUT
ST/WR Matthew Slater
Argument for trade/release:
Argument against
TE Rob Gronkowski
Argument for trade/release:
tried
Alex Guerrero
Tom Brady
Logan Mankins
Argument against