The Patriots have checked in with the Chargers on obvious trade/cut candidates during this week’s open negotiating period, sources told the Herald.
The Chargers are more than $25 million over the salary cap, and they must be compliant before the NFL’s new league year begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. Their most obvious trade/cut candidates are wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen and edge defenders Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.
The Patriots have needs at both wide receiver and edge defender.
Williams is due a $17 million salary and has a $3 million roster bonus due on the third day of the 2024 league year. Allen is due an $18.1 million salary and has a $5 million roster bonus due March 17. Mack is due a $17.55 million salary and has a $5.5 million roster bonus due on the third day of the 2024 league year. Bosa is due a $17 million salary and has a $7 million roster bonus due on the third day of the 2024 league year.
The Patriots have the salary cap space to acquire any of the four players if conversations progress to trade talks.
Williams will be 30 in October and missed most of the 2023 season with a torn ACL. He has two 1,000-yard seasons to his name, however, and caught 63 passes for 895 yards with four touchdowns in 13 games in 2022. He caught 19 passes for 249 yards with one touchdown before his injury last season.
Allen will be 32 in April and is coming off of a 108-catch, 1,243-yard season with seven touchdowns in just 13 games. The six-time Pro Bowl selection has spent his entire 11-year career with the Chargers and has been a 1,000-yard receiver six times.
Mack had 17 sacks last season with the Chargers. The 33-year-old pass rusher has also spent time with the Raiders and Bears and has 101.5 career sacks in 10 seasons with eight Pro Bowl nods.
Bosa, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Chargers. He has 67 career sacks but has played just 14 games over the last two seasons and will be 29 in July.
The Patriots re-signed wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and Jalen Reagor and plan to cut DeVante Parker on Wednesday. They also have wide receivers Kawaan Baker, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, T.J. Luther, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton on their 90-man roster and have shown interest in free-agent wideout Calvin Ridley.
Edge defenders Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings will hit free agency on Wednesday. The team also has Keion White, Deatrich Wise and Matthew Judon at defensive end/outside linebacker.
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