With the NFL trade deadline set for Nov. 10, Christian Barmore has become one of the more intriguing names to surface in the rumor mill around the New England Patriots.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that the veteran defensive tackle “could be had” in the next two weeks, pointing to his role in the Patriots’ rotation as part of the reason:
The Patriots are deep in the AFC race, but veteran DT Christian Barmore could be had, having played only 41.9% of the team’s defensive snaps, falling behind Milton Williams and Cory Durden in the team’s rotation.
Barmore has logged 41.9% of New England’s defensive snaps this season, which ranks 13th on the team overall and third among defensive tackles, behind Milton Williams and Cory Durden. In those snaps, he has put up six tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. His 12 combined quarterback pressures rank second among the Patriots’ interior linemen, trailing only Williams, who has 14.
The bigger question is what that production means in relation to Barmore’s $17.1 million salary cap number. New England is near the bottom in available cap space, and dealing the 27-year-old could open up meaningful room. Depending on when a trade happens, the Patriots could free up as much as $8 million this year and nearly $41 million over the next two seasons.
Whether that kind of cap relief would push the Patriots to move him remains to be seen, and so does the return they might get. Matching the package the Titans received for Jeffery Simmons, who went to Chicago for two first-round picks, is considered unlikely.
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