Patriots Trade Idea Finds Them Replacement For Recent Departure
The New England Patriots are looking high and mighty at this near-halfway point in the season.
6-2, with a one game lead at the top of the AFC East, and with a second year quarterback who is looking like a top-5 signal caller in the NFL through eight games of the season.
With the trade deadline coming up, the team could potentially use some reinforcement in a couple of different areas. Running back could be an area to hit – in light of Antonio Gibson’s season-ending ACL tear and Rhamondre Stevenson’s toe injury, which could keep him out for up to three weeks.
But the defense looks like a more clear area to attack for general manager, Eliot Wolf, and head coach, Mike Vrabel. And of the two spots, safety makes the most sense to add, especially since the team traded veteran Kyle Dugger, to the Steelers this past week.
Patriots Trade Proposal Lands New England All-Pro Safety
So in this trade proposal, the Patriots make a move for All-Pro safety, Budda Baker, who currently plays for the 2-5 Arizona Cardinals.
Although he was not starting by the end of his tenure, Dugger was still a contributing rotational piece on offense, and according to Bill Barnwell of ESPN, the Patriots should consider adding another, if they can, prior to the deadline.
“One of the few teams with defensive depth on the market, the Patriots consummated a pair of trades when they dealt Kyle Dugger to the Steelers and Keion White to the 49ers on Tuesday afternoon.” Barnwell wrote on Thursday. “Both moves have been in the cards for most of the 2025 season, but the trades were more about getting rid of players who didn’t fit Mike Vrabel’s system than shipping off players from a position of strength. The Pats probably wouldn’t mind adding a safety to rotate in alongside Jaylinn Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson.”
Budda Baker Trade Makes Sense For Both Sides
And Baker would be an epic replacement. Despite turning 30 next January, and currently being on year nine, the former third round pick is still incredibly sharp.
Baker made the second-team All-Pro last season, and has been one of the best safeties in the league for the best part of a decade.
This season, his form has taken a bit of a downturn, but he is also playing – once more – on the no-hope Cardinals. A change of scheme and scenery – and the chance to play under elite head coach and defensive guru, Mike Vrabel, will certainly be an enticing one.
And on the other end, the Cardinals will likely be open to moving one of their better but more expensive – and old – veteran players, in a season after which a rebuild would look to be the plan on both sides of the ball.
New England gets a guy to help them win now. Arizona gets additional draft capital.
New England Patriots receive: Budda Baker
Arizona Cardinals receive: 2026 fifth round pick
Chubb Named Texans’ X-Factor Amid RB Depth Concerns
The Houston Texans must lean on Nick Chubb for the early portion of the regular season, which is a daunting ask considering what the four-time Pro Bowler has been through physically. But Chubb has received some noteworthy endorsements in addition to making key comments.
Chubb, who turns 30 in December, is on a one-year, $2.5 million contract (with $38.9 million in career earnings), is supposed to be the Texans’ RB2.
But former NFL agent Joel Corry, now an analyst for CBS Sports, offered an encouraging take.
Texans RB Nick Chubb Tabbed as ‘Bounce-Back Candidate’
Corry selected Chubb among his list of 15 potential “bounceback candidates” entering the 2025 regular season, noting the former Cleveland Browns star was in the “conversation” for the “best” back in the NFL.
“Chubb came back from a devastating 2023 left knee injury with the Cleveland Browns in which he tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus seven weeks into the 2024 season,” Corry wrote
Being further removed from the injury certainly bodes well for Chubb. Moreover, Chubb believes his injury concerns are behind him, which is certainly good news for the Texans.
“I feel good,”
Nick Chubb Called Potential ‘X Factor’ for Texans
Optimism about Chubb’s potential resurgence has increased amid an impressive training camp and (limited) preseason showing. ESPN’s Benjamin Solak tabbed Chubb as the Texans’ “X factor” amid “too many” options.
Solak noted the offensive line, but added that even if they struggle again in pass protection, they can “win as run blockers.”
Solak also highlighted just how much the Texans leaned on C.J. Stroud and the passing game.
“The Texans need to be able to run opposing defenses out of two-high shells — star quarterback C.J. Stroud saw split safety defenses on 49.4% of his dropbacks last season, a big leap from the 42.8% he enjoyed as a rookie. And to that end, they need Chubb to rediscover something lost,” Solak wrote on August 28.
“The Texans, who were scrambling for RB depth after Joe Mixon’s ankle injury lingered long through the offseason and now into the regular season, took the long shot that Chubb could return to form now two calendar years removed from the major knee injury."
Joe Mixon’s Injury Looms Large For Nick Chubb, Texans
Chubb rushed for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns in 302 carries in 2022. He has 502 yards and 3 touchdowns on 130 carries over the last two seasons.
The Texans need the 2022 version, or something closer to it than Chubb’s 2023 and 2024 self.
“If the Houston line is going to be hot and cold, he needs to make up the difference by maximizing the rushing lanes when he gets them and minimizing losses with elusiveness behind the line of scrimmage,” Solak wrote. “If he can’t, the Texans’ offense becomes one-dimensional.”
The concern for Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans may not be having to rely on Chubb, but more specifically, how long they must do so amid Mixon’s nebulous outlook.
Texans RBs Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks, and others must also help ease Chubb’s burden.
