As expected, the Patriots gave up very little to acquire linebacker Jonathan Casillas in a trade with the Buccaneers today.
New England traded its fifth-round pick to Tampa Bay for Casillas and the Buccaneers sixth-round pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. In other words, the Patriots didn’t so much give up a pick for Casillas as they agreed to move down a few spots for Casillas.
Last year the Patriots’ fifth-round pick was No. 169 overall, while the Bucs’ sixth-round pick was No. 183 overall. If the Patriots and Bucs end up in the same draft position as they did last year (which is a possibility given their current records), this would mean the Patriots are moving down 14 draft spots for one pick on the third day of the draft in exchange for Casillas.
So the Patriots are giving up next to nothing for a player they think might add some depth to their defense, while the Bucs are acquiring next to nothing for a player who wasn’t in their future plans anyway. This trade wasn’t a particularly big deal to either team.
