Patriots trades before cutdowns

Patriots trades before cutdowns is the central thesis of a Musketfire column that lays out three low-cost, source-grounded deals New England could pursue to address tight end, interior offensive line and linebacker depth as the team approaches final roster decisions. The piece cites mixed preseason tape — including a 13-13 tie vs. the Colts — and recent injury reports as context for why the front office might explore small, conditional swaps ahead of 53-man cutdowns.

This article summarizes those Musketfire proposals, lists the facts cited, explains potential roster fit for each target, and highlights the main uncertainties. All ideas are speculative and attributed to Musketfire; nothing here is presented as a confirmed transaction. The original Musketfire report is linked in the source block at the end for verification.

Patriots trades before cutdowns — Trade 1: Will Mallory (Indianapolis)

Musketfire suggests New England could send a 2027 6th-round pick to Indianapolis in exchange for Will Mallory, with the Colts receiving a 2028 7th-round pick back as part of the swap. The rationale: add receiving-minded tight end depth who showed a spike in the preseason sample.

Facts Musketfire reports about Mallory:

• Preseason line cited: 6 catches on 7 targets for 80 yards in the Colts game referenced by the story.
• Originally a 2023 fifth-round pick with modest rookie-year production; limited NFL targets since but remains on a cheap contract.
• Colts roster currently includes multiple tight ends ahead of Mallory, which the piece says makes him tradable for late-round capital.

Roster fit for the Patriots: Mallory would be a low-risk, receiving-oriented option behind starter Hunter Henry. If New England opts for two-TE packages or needs a slot-oriented mismatch piece, Mallory could compete for third-TE snaps and special-teams work. The trade cost is small enough that it preserves late-round capital while adding a known commodity for depth and matchup flexibility.

Uncertainties and downside: whether the Colts actually value Mallory enough to trade, if the preseason output is sustainable in a larger role, and whether the Patriots would prefer to promote an internal option instead of using draft capital.

Trade 2 — Willie Lampkin (Philadelphia): interior line insurance

Musketfire proposes a conditional 2028 6th-round pick to acquire Willie Lampkin from the Eagles as low-cost insurance after the report that Ben Brown was injured and likely to miss the remainder of the preseason. Lampkin is framed as a developmental piece with positional versatility.

Facts Musketfire reports about Lampkin:

• Undrafted rookie initially with the Rams before landing with the Eagles.
• College snap breakdown cited: roughly 22.7% of snaps at center and substantial guard snaps (reported as 851 snaps at guard in 2024), indicating inside versatility.
• ESPN-type depth-write notes referenced by Musketfire place him below other Eagles interior options, making a move plausible for low compensation.

Roster fit for New England: With reported injury noise around Brown, the Patriots might value a swing interior lineman who can back up both guard and center duties. Lampkin would be a bench option and practice-room competitor for backup snaps behind the projected starters; he could provide stability if James Hudson or undrafted players like Jacob Rizy don’t convince coaches in practice reps.

Uncertainties and downside: the Eagles’ willingness to trade a developmental lineman, the degree to which Lampkin can handle NFL center reps versus primarily guard work, and the conditional terms that would tie compensation to playing-time thresholds.

Trade 3 — Malik Harrison (Pittsburgh): adding veteran linebacker depth

Musketfire’s third idea is trading a conditional 2028 7th-round pick to the Steelers for veteran inside linebacker Malik Harrison. The piece presents Harrison as deeper on Pittsburgh’s depth chart and therefore movable for late-round compensation.

Facts Musketfire reports about Harrison:

• Reported stat line cited: 41 tackles in 11 games last season.
• Sixth-year pro with multiple team stops and experience on special teams and rotational defensive snaps.
• Framed by the report as a candidate to be released or traded for low compensation late in camp.

Roster fit for New England: Harrison would bring veteran depth to a linebacker room that Musketfire describes as thinner than ideal. He could compete for special-teams snaps and short-yardage rotational work while serving as an experienced backup if the Patriots prefer a proven NFL veteran over a younger developmental piece.

Uncertainties and downside: reports that he is “likely to be released” are treated as unconfirmed expectations; Pittsburgh could simply cut him instead of trading, and the Patriots may prefer to allocate a 7th-rounder elsewhere or keep younger depth intact.

Compare the three trades (quick table)

Risk, uncertainty and timing ahead of 53-man cutdowns

All three proposals are speculative ideas presented by Musketfire and should be read as trade concepts rather than confirmed deals. The piece relies on preseason snap samples, depth-chart placement and injury reports (PFF- and ESPN-style citations are noted in Musketfire) to make the case that these specific players could be available for late-round compensation.

The reported injury to Ben Brown amplifies short-term urgency for interior depth; that is explicitly why Lampkin is framed as a time-sensitive option. In general, teams often prefer turning roster surplus into late-round picks rather than carrying logjams through the final cutdown, which is why conditional, low-cost trades are plausible in concept.

Timing: expect the most activity in the final week before cutdowns and on cutdown day itself. Any real trade would likely include conditions tied to active roster status or playing-time thresholds to protect both sides and limit downside.

Source attribution and next steps for Patriots fans

This summary is based on a Musketfire column by Graham Wilker that lists the three trades above and the supporting facts cited here. Read the original Musketfire story for full context: Musketfire: 3 Patriots trades that could solve their biggest roster problems before cutdowns.

What would confirm any of these moves: official team announcements, NFL transaction wire entries, or reporting by credible beat writers. Fans should watch Patriots practice reports, the injury report (notably updates on Ben Brown), preseason snap counts, and the NFL transaction wire as cutdown day approaches.

FAQ

What happened with Patriots trades before cutdowns?
Musketfire proposed three speculative, low-cost trades (Will Mallory, Willie Lampkin, Malik Harrison) the Patriots could explore to address depth concerns. Those ideas are suggestions, not confirmed transactions.

Why do Patriots trades before cutdowns matter?
Late-summer trades can shore up immediate weaknesses ahead of the 53-man roster decision while minimizing long-term cost. Musketfire frames these moves as small, conditional exchanges that limit downside.

What happens next?
Watch for official team announcements, the NFL transaction wire and beat reporting. If the Patriots pursue any of these options, alerts and wire entries will be the earliest confirmation; otherwise teams may opt to cut players outright instead of trading.

Source: Musketfire (Graham Wilker). Link and citation above provide the original reporting and the specific facts summarized in this item.