Troubling prediction would ruin Patriots' chance at much-needed trade

"At this point in the Patriots' offseason, the focus has been solely on the likely upcoming trade for wide receiver AJ Brown after June 1, and that will likely remain the hottest topic in New England until the deal is made, assuming it is. But there are other trades the team could consider, particularly at tight end, that should interest fans, too."

"Bears' Cole Kmet has been a name on the radar over the last few months, as Chicago has a full tight end room and might need to move on from the veteran to hand the reins to one of the younger players on the roster. That has put the Patriots in the midst for the 27-year-old, as he is viewed as a potential successor to Hunter Henry, but as time goes on, it looks less likely that they'll have a legitimate chance to make a trade happen."

"Although they drafted Eli Raridon and have high hopes that he will be the tight end of the future, Kmet would serve as an immediate replacement for Henry, who many believe might not be on the roster in 2027. He would give the Patriots security at the position if Raridon needs more time, but the latest projection from Alex Kay of Bleacher Report hints Kmet might not be available after all."

"Looking ahead to the 2026 season and what some of the more exciting second-year players might accomplish, Kay suggests that Colston Loveland could have a slump, which would mean the Bears would rely on Kmet more than initially projected. That would be bad news for the Patriots if they showed any interest in Kmet, since a more prominent role would probably make the Bears much more hesitant to move on from him, especially given the kind of offense head coach Ben Johnson likes to run."

The Patriots’ offseason attention centers on a potential AJ Brown trade after June 1, but other trade options exist, especially at tight end. Cole Kmet has been linked to New England as a possible successor to Hunter Henry, offering an immediate replacement if Henry is not on the roster in 2027. The likelihood of a trade appears to be declining as projections suggest Chicago may need Kmet more. A potential second-year slump from Colston Loveland could force the Bears to rely on Kmet more heavily. That increased usage would make Chicago less inclined to trade him, particularly because Ben Johnson’s offense frequently uses two- or three-tight end personnel packages.

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