The NFL trade deadline is approaching, all deals need to be done by Tuesday, November 1st. The biggest story surrounding the Patriots is their quarterback situation, but another serious issue that’s hurt them this season is the play of their linebackers.
The Patriots have been torched by both Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields in the run game and their linebackers have been inconsistent in pass coverage. There is one player who could solve many of their problems and that has requested a trade earlier this year: Bears linebacker Roquan Smith.
Patriots’ fans got a good look at Smith on Monday night when he helped bottle up the New England rushing attack and also had a sack and an interception. Smith is an excellent athlete at 6’1”, 232 pounds and is only 25 years old. He currently leads the NFL with 78 tackles and has 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. He is a physical, commanding presence in the middle of the Bears defense and would immediately be the best linebacker on the Patriots roster.
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New England could slot him in as their starting middle linebacker; it would give them a solid 1-2 run defense combo with him and Ja’Whaun Bentley and they would not have to rely on Mack Wilson or Raekwon McMillan. Smith would also cover better than Bentley and would be more reliable overall than Wilson and McMillan. The Patriots opted to overhaul their linebackers and so far the results have been disappointing. Adding Smith would completely change the potential of the Patriots defense and their linebackers.
Over the past two decades the Patriots have had many good defenses under Bill Belichick. All of those defenses have had three things in common: at least one elite, shutdown cornerback, a space eating defensive tackle, and a great middle linebacker. First it was Tedy Bruschi, then it was Dont’a Hightower. Smith could be the next in line if New England is willing to pony up the draft pick and financial cost.