The New England Patriots have been very active in NFL free agency in 2014 and after the rumors came out that a Danny Amendola trade could be in the works, teams like the Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers were identified as potential options after the Pats signed Brandon LaFell and Julian Edelman.
The Patriots rumors started to come up earlier in the offseason and they were reported by CBS Sports and this came before the team signed back Edelman. One reason for the trade could have been to clear space for Edelman, but now they have him and Brandon LaFell in on deals and Bill Belichick also pulled off the huge grab of Darrelle Revis and now the Patriots look to be reloaded for this coming season. A team like the 49ers could jump in for a trade of Amendola, as they have needs at wide receiver despite bringing back Anquan Boldin.
The team has Michael Crabtree just a year removed from serious surgery and while Boldin is great, he is also getting up there in age and with Mario Manningham signing back with the Giants, the team could look at Amendola as an option. Amendola would fit in with what Jim Harbaugh likes to do and the team has enough draft picks to make the deal if they were interested in doing it. ESPN.com reported that the Niners are looking to trade up for Mike Evans or one of the other receivers in the draft and they could do this deal instead to help conserve some of those higher picks.
Amendola was put on the trade block after being banged up last season and while he was solid overall in catching 54 balls for 633 yards and two touchdowns, he only played in 12 games and that allowed Edelman to step up. Last season Edelman had career highs with over 100 catches and 1,056 yards and six touchdowns and now he is back with the team on a deal along with LaFell. The Patriots signed Amendola originally to help be a replacement for Wes Welker and that role ended up going to Edelman instead.
Last offseason Amendola signed a five-year deal worth $28.5 million and now the Patriots want to try and get some breathing room and that could lead to a trade, while Vince Wilfork is looking to get his release from the team as well. Edelman signed back with the Patriots last season on a one year deal and now he is back with the Patriots and so is LaFell, who joins in after spending his early career with the Carolina Panthers. Last season LaFell had 49 catches for 627 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games and now the Pats are hoping he can be a solid number two or three receiver for Tom Brady.
The Washington Redskins likely don't have the money for the move, but they are in need of a better option behind Pierre Garcon and that could open things up with Robert Griffin in the offense. The Panthers are also a need team at WR after losing LaFell and cutting Steve Smith and now Cam Newton needs a new number one and two receiver in the offense after making the playoffs last season.
