The Patriots didn’t make a blockbuster trade before the NFL’s deadline, but they apparently had an opportunity to.

In an ESPN column published Wednesday, league insider Jeremy Fowler revisited New England’s inactivity leading up to the deadline. The Patriots didn’t sell to accrue future assets or bring in any players to accelerate their rebuild.

Fowler provided insight into the Patriots’ unexpectedly quiet approach, and in doing so, he revealed an inquiry that Eliot Wolf and company vehemently shut down.

“They did nothing at the deadline, suggesting this isn’t as big of a roster teardown as most thought. Well, it is and it isn’t,” Fowler wrote. “New England knows it’s far too short on building blocks. But at the deadline, opposing teams had interest in only key players, such as corner Christian Gonzalez or defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. The first player was a hard no, and the second is good enough to help keep the defense afloat up front. The maligned receiver room generated minimal to no interest. So New England stood pat.”

It probably would have taken an overwhelming offer for the Patriots even to consider trading Gonzalez. The 22-year-old looks like a star in the making, and if New England picks up his fifth-year option, he will be under contract for the next three seasons. As a very talented player at a premium position, Gonzalez is one of the Patriots’ most valuable assets.

Thus, we can probably expect to see the 2023 first-rounder in a New England uniform for years to come.