The NFL Draft is the busiest weekend on the league’s calendar, not just because 257 picks plus dozens of rookie free agents will find new homes. There also will be a multitude of picks, with teams moving up or down the board in hopes of maximizing value and filling needs on their roster.

Those moves also might involve veteran players. The New England Patriots are no strangers to such transactions, bringing in former cornerstones such as Randy Moss or Trent Brown via draft-day trades. While the new regime led by Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel might have a different view on the trade market than the previous one under Bill Belichick, there are some veteran candidates to consider both internally and externally.

Patriots trade candidates

WR Kendrick Bourne: The Patriots’ wide receiver room is anything but a strength at the moment, but a player like Bourne might still be seen as an expendable commodity within it. While he did have success under returning coordinator Josh McDaniels before, he was of relatively little significance in 2024 and might have a hard time finding consistent playing time with Stefon Diggs, Ja’Lynn Polk and a potential draft addition filling similar roles. He would only yield minor value in a trade (think: late-round pick swap).

WR Kayshon Boutte: Boutte’s name has been in the spotlight since ESPN insider Adam Schefter mentioned him among other potentially “expendable” commodities around the league. That might not mean that he is getting traded, but the Patriots would likely try to get at least some value out of their 2023 sixth-round pick if they indeed view him in that speculative light. If indeed traded, he likely would be part of a package deal similar to the one mentioned with fellow wideout Kendrick Bourne above.

OL Cole Strange: Even though Mike Vrabel spoke positively of Strange earlier in the offseason, and the offensive line as a whole is a concern, the 2022 first-round draft pick might just be the most realistic candidate to be traded by the Patriots. He is entering the last year of his contract and is an unclear projection, but also has some draft pedigree, intriguing athleticism and NFL starting experience. Teams in need of offensive line help such as Houston, Indianapolis or Kansas City might be willing take a swing at the 26-year-old.

There are other players on the Patriots roster, whose names might come up as candidates to be moves. However, the finances make dealing players such as WR Ja’Lynn Polk, LB Jahlani Tavai, ED Anfernee Jennings or S Kyle Dugger less attractive. Likewise, there also might not be much of a trade market for players like OT Vederian Lowe or S Jabrill Peppers.

Potential Patriots trade targets

TE Michael Mayer (Raiders): The Raiders hired a new regime this offseason, and it might be willing to offload assets no longer deemed as fits. Mayer, a second-round draft pick under then-Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels in 2023, could fall into that category. His two seasons so far have been relatively quiet, and Brock Bowers is the clear TE1 on Las Vegas’ roster at the moment. Likewise, the Patriots have a sneaky long-term need at tight end.

WR George Pickens (Steelers): Granted, this would be a curveball. However, Pickens’ name has come up in trade talks over the last few days and there would be incentive for both Pittsburgh and New England to act: the Steelers would get something for a player they might not want to pay after already giving big bucks to DK Metcalf, while the Patriots would address their need at the X-receiver spot. And sure, Pickens might not be A-quality locker room material, but having veterans like Stefon Diggs or Mack Hollins in the room might help with that. The bigger question might just be what the team would be willing to give up.

TE Kyle Pitts (Falcons): Another tight end to possibly improve the long-term outlook behind current Patriots starters Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, Pitts has been an enigma since entering the league fourth overall in 2021. He has had some moments of brilliance, but also has been wildly inconsistent and/or misused. Adding him would be a bit of a gamble — then again, so is every signing or trade — but he would likely benefit from the change of scenery New England could provide.

ED Kayvon Thibodeaux (Giants): The Giants are the frontrunners to draft Abdul Carter at No. 3 overall, which in turn would suggest another former first-round pick might become available. Thibodeaux has not lived up to his status as the No. 5 overall pick in 2022, but he has some athletic talent and would help address what is a clear need for the Patriots at likely a relatively minor cost (e.g. a Round 4 pick).

ED Tyree Wilson (Raiders): Back where we started this list, in Las Vegas. Wilson also was drafted by the McDaniels regime back in 2023 and has not lived up to his status as a seventh overall pick. It’s a similar same story as with Thibodeaux: Las Vegas might go edge early in the draft, and the Patriots would help fill a need with a player who might have untapped potential.

Obviously, the potential trade market runs deeper than those five players. However, other potential candidates such as OT Kolton Miller (Raiders), OT Trevor Penning (Saints) or WR Treylon Burks (Titans) currently would not appear to be in realistic consideration for a variety of reasons.

Of course, all of this comes with a caveat: while veteran trades are fun to speculate about, the reality is that those happen far less often than one would think. For every veteran to move, there might by dozens of others who are mentioned but never actually sent from one team to another. So, while all of the names above are candidates they are far from safe bets to be traded either from or to the Patriots or someplace else.