It's time for Robert Kraft to face facts about his New England Patriots. Tom Brady ain't coming back to lead the organization to a seventh Super Bowl title. And it might just be time for Bill Belichick to wrap up his historic run in Foxborough.
Through six games of this 2023 NFL season, the Pats have won just once, that being a Week 3 victory over the New York Jets.
But since that 15-10 win, New England has been outscored 93-20 in losses to the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Las Vegas Raiders. And being beaten by Josh McDaniels and Brian Hoyer this past Sunday had to eat at Belichick a bit, don't you think?
Simply put, the Patriots simply don't have the talent they once did. And while Mac Jones is the easy scapegoat here as that experiment has clearly run its course, problems exist on both sides of the football.
The defense gets a slight pass as New England's two best defenders, Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez, are now both on injured reserve. But those two alone certainly weren't saving this season, one that's essentially already over as it pertains to returning to the NFL Playoffs.
At 1-5, the Patriots are tied for the second-worst record in the league and would own the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft if it took place tomorrow. Only the Carolina Panthers are worse at 0-6.
Now, no team coached by Bill Belichick would ever truly tank to secure the top pick in the draft, even if that pick turns out to be reigning Heisman Trophy-winning USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who could probably come to New England next week and play better than Mac Jones has this season.
With that said, however, it truly is time for Robert Kraft and the Patriots to start over. And that's with or without Bill Belichick on the sideline. They have several players in contract years, and trading a few of them to secure a few more draft picks might be the way to go as the deadline approaches.
They're not going to win many more games, so at least getting something in return for these guys for the future would be wise. There are a few young players on this roster that are worth saving for this latest rebuild, but quite a few that likely wouldn't be back in 2024 anyway.
Here are a few names for which New England might be able to get decent value in return.
Kendrick Bourne, WR
Despite Mac Jones' overall struggles, Kendrick Bourne has had a solid start to the 2023 campaign with 28 receptions for 307 yards with a pair of scores, giving him the solo lead or the shared lead in each category.
Many of the major contenders will be looking to add a quality wideout near the deadline, and Bourne fits that bill. As he's less than two years away from turning 30, keeping the former 49er around for a rebuild doesn't make much sense.
As Bourne is in the final season of the three-year, $15 million deal he signed ahead of the 2021 campaign, ship him out and pick up a fourth-round pick. Sure, that'll make Jones' life a lot more difficult. But who cares? They're tanking for Caleb anyway, right?
Hunter Henry, TE
If the Patriots truly wanted to put Jones at a disadvantage, they'd also go ahead and get rid of tight end Hunter Henry and his hefty salary.
Like Bourne, Henry will soon be 30 and won't be a significant factor to consider as this rebuild ensues. For one, there's no way Kraft will shell out the type of three-year/$37.5 million deal he gave the Arkansas product in 2021.
With all due respect, Henry won't get that kind of cash from anyone in free agency. Don't get it twisted. He's a solid NFL tight end who hauled in 91 passes for 1,112 yards with 11 touchdowns in his first two years in Foxborough.
And he got off to a decent start this season as well, with 17 catches for 176 yards and a pair of scores in the Patriots' first four games. He's since fizzled, catching only ball the past two weeks for a seven-yard gain. But he still brings value to a contender.
The team that initially comes to mind is the Cincinnati Bengals, who are clearly missing Hayden Hurst during the first third of this 2023 season. Henry could easily slide in and take some pressure off Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd.
And with Tee Higgins nursing a rib injury, he gives Joe Burrow another option. Like Bourne, Henry could get the Patriots a fourth-round pick, possibly even a third-rounder if someone gets desperate enough.
Josh Uche, LB
At just 25 years of age, linebacker Josh Uche might fall into the category of one of those younger players the Patriots might want to keep around for the future.
However, there's a lot of buzz surrounding the former Michigan Wolverine as the trade deadline approaches. And as one of Belichick's best draft picks in recent years, Uche could net New England a decent return.
At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, Uche had a breakout year a season ago, recording 11.5 sacks in 15 games, second only to Judon's 15.5. And while his numbers aren't as good this season, he's still a solid pass rusher that could easily help a contender.
The Jacksonville Jaguars come to mind, as do the Cleveland Browns. And I'd go as far as to say that either of those teams might be willing to surrender a conditional second-round selection to get a deal done.
Speaking of the second round, how's this for a random nugget? What if I told you that the last second-round pick to receive a second contract from the New England Patriots was a guy named Rob Gronkowski? Pretty wild, right?
Uche is playing the fourth and final year of his rookie deal, and New England simply may not want to pay what he'll command in free agency. Why not go ahead and make sure you get something back instead of just letting him walk out the door?
