NFL Notebook: Taking stock of Patriots as trade deadline looms

In this week’s edition of the NFL Notebook, we set the table for Rob Gronkowski’s return to upstate New York, take a look at what Patriots’ fans should be looking for when it comes to the Sunday slate of games, offer some stats that caught our eye this week, and reveal the newest piece of New England memorabilia that’s now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But first, with the trade deadline looming Tuesday, we have a snapshot of where the Patriots stand and what sort of movement (if any) we could see from the team.


1. While things can change dramatically between now and then, the Patriots do not appear to be poised to be an exceptionally major player when it comes to this year’s trade deadline, set for Tuesday at 4 p.m. That’s not to say they’re not open when it comes to making and taking phone calls on potential swaps, which has apparently taken place the last week or so. (This report from Mike Giardi of NFL Media is certainly intriguing.) It’s just to suggest that any deals they might be inclined to make right now would be more about middle-class roster adjustments on either side of the ball, particularly on defense — an additional linebacker, a situational pass rusher. (For a look at how New England might be inclined to move money around if it did get a call about a player with a big deal, check out Miguel's excellent breakdown of what would have to happen here.)

Here’s a look at the Patriots’ deals over the last decade that were done at or close to the trade deadline:

2017: Dealt QB Jimmy Garoppolo to San Francisco. (Honestly, it's amazing to think this was only a year ago.)
2016: Acquired LB Kyle Van Noy, dealt LB Jamie Collins, TE AJ Derby
2014: Acquired LB Akeem Ayers, LB Jonathan Casillas
2013: Acquired DT Isaac Sopoaga
2012: Acquired CB Aqib Talib

In the context of this conversation, let’s also pull out the big board of Bill Belichick’s favorite trade partners. Since he took over as head coach and de facto GM of the Patriots since 2000, here’s a complete list of his deals, sorted by frequency and by team (per the New England media guide):

Ten trades: Oakland, Detroit
Nine trades: Chicago, New Orleans
Eight trades: Cleveland, Green Bay, Denver
Seven trades: Tampa Bay, Philadelphia
Six trades: Houston
Five trades: Rams, Baltimore, Seattle, San Francisco
Four trades: Cincinnati, Dallas, Tennessee, Arizona, Washington, Kansas City
Three trades: Minnesota, Miami, Carolina
Two trades: Indy, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Jacksonville, Atlanta
One trade: Buffalo, New York Giants
No trades: New York Jets

Again, please understand that things can change quickly -- the days before the deadline are very fluid. But if the Patriots do want to take a shot at a (relatively) big-ticket item, one name that keeps coming up is New York Giants linebacker Alec Ogletree. The 6-foot-2, 254-pounder is more of a coverage guy than a rush guy, but he could provide an excellent complementary piece in that front seven. You’d have to move some money around — he’s a little on the expensive side — but he’s an athletic linebacker who can fill a serious need for the next year-plus, at least in theory.

2. One of the biggest reasons to look forward to Monday’s game? No player on the New England roster does better when it comes to homecoming games than Rob Gronkowski. The native of upstate New York always seems to save a little something extra for Buffalo. In his career facing the Bills in New York, he averages 6 catches, 104 yards and a touchdown every game.

It’s also inevitably a family affair for the big tight end — after one game a few years ago, Gronkowski finished his media obligations and returned to the field, where there was a group of roughly 75 or so family and friends waiting to say hello. (A poor security guard tried to keep shepherd them toward the exits, but they were having none of it. Eventually, he threw up his hands and let them be.)

Buffalo means something important to Gronkowski. Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News told Bob Socci this week he’s known Gronkowski since junior high, and you could always tell the tight end was going place.

“You could tell. There was something incredibly special about him,” said Carucci, who got to know the Gronkowski family. “He walked into my office and looked at the memorabilia that I have and said ‘Someday, Mr. Carucci, you’re going to write a paper about me.’ Which I guess was his way of saying he’s going to be famous for playing this game. And he was right. He knew exactly where he was headed as an athlete.”

Of course, while Gronkowski loves Buffalo, it’s been hard for the city to feel the same way about him.

“Playing of the Patriots makes it very hard for Buffalo fans to embrace anything about any player, even a hometown guy,” Carucci added. “He’s been part of the damage the Pats have done repeatedly through the years to Buffalo.”