The New England Patriots are getting a new offensive weapon in wide receiver Mohamed Sanu.
But they aren't getting him for free.
The Patriots reportedly are sending a 2020 second-round draft pick to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Sanu. That's a significant price to pay for a team that highly values draft capital.
New England had some ammunition to spend, though. According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, Bill Belichick's club still is projected to have 12 selections in the 2020 NFL Draft despite losing its second-round pick -- four of which will come within the first 100 picks.
- 1st round (own)
- 3rd round (own)
- 3rd round (projected compensatory pick: Trey Flowers)
- 3rd round (projected compensatory pick: Trent Brown)
- 4th round (via Chicago Bears)
- 6th round (via Houston Texans: Keion Crossen trade)
- 6th round (via Denver Broncos: Duke Dawson trade)
- 6th round (projected compensatory pick: Malcom Brown)
- 6th round (projected compensatory pick: Cordarrelle Patterson)
- 7th round (via Seattle Seahawks)
- 7th round (via Falcons)
- 7th round (via Philadelphia Eagles)
That projected arsenal may have made the Patriots more comfortable parting with a second-rounder to acquire Sanu, who should immediately bolster a weak wide receiver corps.
New England Patriots
Belichick also hasn't had much luck with second-round picks: Only three of New England's second-selections under Belichick are still with the team -- rookie Joejuan Williams, safety Patrick Chung and linebacker Jamie Collins -- and both Chung and Collins went elsewhere before returning to the Patriots.
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