The New England Patriots’ season got off on the wrong foot in Week 1, which could underscore the need to make roster tweaks to get things back on track.
Optimism was palpable before the season that new head coach Mike Vrabel and a flurry of free-agency signings could help turn the Patriots into wild-card contenders. One loss to the Las Vegas Raiders shouldn’t erase all that optimism, but it was a friendly reminder that there are still flaws all over this roster.
Though the Patriots racked up four sacks of quarterback Geno Smith in Week 1 (2 1/2 belonging to newcomer Harold Landry II), the defensive line still looks to be a relatively thin area that New England could look to bolster via trade at some point.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
To that end, one football writer has a mock trade proposal that would see New England land a veteran pass-rusher.
On Friday, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox proposed that New England could ship tight end Austin Hooper to the San Francisco 49ers, who placed superstar George Kittle on injured reserve earlier this week, in exchange for defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos.
“(Hooper played) under 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons,” wrote Knox. “He has a modest $2 million base salary that would be reasonable for a short-term rental.
“To make this a deal that also benefits the Patriots, the 49ers could offer defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos in a trade. He’s set to be a free agent in the spring and played just 17 defensive snaps in San Francisco’s season opener. However, he could help bolster a Patriots defense that surrendered 389 yards in Week 1.
Hooper is a 10-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler, but he’s a clear second option on the tight end depth chart behind Hunter Henry in New England. The Patriots don’t have a third tight end listed on that depth chart, however, which makes a trade seem less likely than Knox’s idea might suggest. (Second-year tight end Jack Westover is on the roster, though he’s listed as a fullback.)
Gross-Matos, meanwhile, has 17 career sacks and 25 tackles for a loss in 67 career games for the 49ers and…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Newsweek…