The New England Patriots have a new head coach, and with that, there are bound to be some personnel changes that correspond to the new scheme.
Mike Vrabel, the legendary former Patriots linebacker, is now taking over the helm as head coach. He brings six years of prior experience with the Tennessee Titans, with a record of 54-45 at the helm.
As free agency begins to ramp up, the Patriots have to decide what sort of defensive personnel best suits not only Vrabel’s preferred scheme, but the type of culture he wants to build. And one goal they seem to be establishing is to get more aggressive and athletic.
That goal makes players like 330-pound run-stopping defensive tackle Davon Godchaux a bit less useful in New England. And now, Godchaux is gone.
On Monday, the Patriots reportedly agreed to send Godchaux to the New Orleans Saints for a 2026 seventh-round pick. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the news of the trade.
Godchaux, 30, is entering his ninth NFL season, having played 120 total games for the Patriots and Miami Dolphins. He signed an extension last July that will pay him $4 million this season and $5.5 million in 2026.
Last season, Godchaux totaled 67 tackles, his highest mark since 2019. That was accompanied by just one tackle for loss and no sacks, though. He played 61 percent of New England’s defensive snaps.
Seventh-round picks don’t sound important in the moment, but every year, a couple turn into regular starters, with the occasional Julian Edelman or Brock Purdy thrown into the mix.
Will the Patriots use the pick they got from New Orleans on a future star? Even if the odds aren’t good, it’s worth the risk if Godchaux wasn’t going to have much of a role anyway.