The trade deadline is fast approaching, and a recent report indicated the New England Patriots want to trade edge defender Anfernee Jennings. This is something of a surprise on the surface, as New England is 7-2 and tied for the best record in football. Generally speaking, teams like these don’t sell players at the deadline. However, a deeper dive shows that Jennings is simply not a fit for the current regime.
Selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Alabama product had his moments under former head coach Bill Belichick. While he never did much as a pass rusher, Jennings was one of the league’s most efficient run defenders and a valuable situational player in that scheme. However, current head coach Mike Vrabel has not utilized him in that role, and it makes sense for the team to try to get what they can for his services. While nobody will give a massive return, he could find a nice home with the Dallas Cowboys.
Cowboys, Patriots Could Agree to Anfernee Jennings Trade
The Dallas Cowboys face an uphill battle to reach a playoff spot, but that won’t stop Jerry Jones from going all-in on the 2025 season. While Dak Prescott and the offense have been largely fantastic, the defense has been an outright disaster. Trading Micah Parsons proved to be a horrible decision, as the team cannot stop anything through the air or on the ground.
While the trade deadline is still hours away, Anfernee Jennings might be the best option for the Cowboys. The Philadelphia Eagles already traded for Jaelan Phillips, and the Baltimore Ravens acquired Dre’Mont Jones, so the remaining pickings are slim.
Perhaps the Cowboys make a move for a big-name player like Bradley Chubb, but Anfernee Jennings probably makes more sense. He’s cheaper, younger, and probably won’t cost as much in a trade. Getting after the quarterback might be more exciting, but finding someone who can stop the run is still important.
The Trade Return
Some teams aren’t interested in selling veterans for minimal returns. The New England Patriots, however, are not one of those franchises. Despite their record, it’s clear Mike Vrabel’s squad wants to make a clean break from players who no longer fit with the team’s long-term vision. After all, they sent veteran Kyle Dugger to the Pittsburgh Steelers and former second-round pick Keion White to the San Francisco 49ers for effectively nothing.
A similar trade could go down here. Anfernee Jennings won’t turn the Cowboys defense into the 2015 Denver Broncos, but he could provide some stability and help transform a terrible unit into “just” a bad one. The Patriots, meanwhile, could use the late-round pick they receive in the trade to help build a young core around franchise quarterback Drake Maye.
Main Photo: Bob DeChiara – Imagn Images
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