Patriots Are One Trade Away From Fully Embracing a Rebuild

The New England Patriots, for the first time in a decade, will not go into a season as the kings of the AFC, as the loss of Tom Brady has them set up for a pretty lean 2020 season.

The Patriots appear destined for a .500 campaign, but trading Julian Edelman away could help them start a proper rebuild rather than holding onto the last shreds of the Brady era.

In 2019, Edelman set a new career high in receiving yards while topping 100 catches for just the second time in his career, so he has plenty of gas left in the tank.

Even at his advanced age, a team in need of a galvanizing veteran force and a slot receiver that can be trusted to eat up his fair share of targets would be willing to give New England quite a solid return, and ripping the Edelman band-aid off would show the Patriots are serious about building for the future instead of trying to compete with Jarrett Stidham.

Bill Belichick might be too stubborn to rebuild, and his defense will make sure that New England wins a few games here and there, but trading Edelman could help ensure the Patriots get out of the mediocrity that is .500 football and end up in a proper rebuild.