Patriots Offseason Tracker: Busy Patriots Make Another Trade

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The new NFL year started Thursday at 4 p.m. but that doesn't mean teams are sitting around and counting down the minutes to when they can sign and trade players.

Reports this week indicate that there is could be a lot of movement in Foxborough, with some popular players leaving and some new faces coming in. Below is a roundup of rumor and updates as we approach Thursday afternoon.

Something Cooking in New Orleans

The New England Patriots have traded their 32nd and 103rd picks in the NFL Draft to the New Orleans Saints for Bradin Cooks and the 118th pick, according to ESPN.

Brooks, a reported target for the Patriots, comes to the team after three seasons in the Big Easy. He is coming off a 78-catch, 1,173-yard season.

Moving up North

Some depth was added to the defensive line Friday, with the report that Carolina defensive end Kony Ealy was sent to New England in exchange for a second-round pick. The Patriots will also receive a third-round pick.

The trade moves the Patriots down eight spots in the NFL draft.

Last season, Early had 32 tackles and five sacks in 16 games.

'Peace out Boston'? Jimmy G Takes to IG?

The hot topic of the offseason has been the status of backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The general consensus is he is good enough to start in the NFL, potentially even for the Patriots once Tom Brady hangs it up.

But Garoppolo won't see real time in New England as long as the soon-to-be 40-year-old Brady is healthy and productive. So whether or not the team trades their Brady insurance policy before he can leave for nothing as a free agent is the talk of the town.

An early-morning post from Garoppolo's Instagram account said "Peace out Boston," seemingly signifying he had been traded. But his agent says the account was hacked.

Cornerback Shuffle

Both starting cornerbacks could be out the door following reports and the signing of a new member of the secondary.

Dianna Russini of ESPN reports that the team is considering trading Malcolm Butler to the New Orleans Saints for wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

The 27-year-old cornerback is a restricted free agent and the team placed first-round tender on him, meaning that if a team signs him, they have to give their first-round pick to the Patriots.

Butler's rise from an undrafted Division II college athlete to an elite cornerback has been well documented. Since the interception against the Seattle Seahawks, Butler has been become a Pro Bowl player and was named a second team All-Pro in 2016.

The good news is that the Butler-Cooks deal is not going to happen following Friday night's trade report.

Butler's partner in the secondary, Logan Ryan, reportedly agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with the Tennessee Titans Thursday night.

Coming to the team is ex-Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore, a Pro Bowler in his own right. And at big money, too.

Changes at Tight End

Looks like there will be a new face at the second tight end position. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Dwayne Allen will be traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Patriots.

Allen, who spent five seasons in Indianapolis, played 14 games in 2016. He made 35 receptions for 406 years and six touchdowns.

The trade means the end of Martellus Bennett's time in Foxborough is done. Bennett reportedly wanted $9 million per year, a number that's considered to be too high for the Patriots. Wednesday, Bennett said goodbye to New England, posting on Twitter, "I'm going to miss you Mass-Holes. T'was Fun. Thank you for the good times. To infinity and beyond..."

It's a New Deal, Yes it is

Someone who will be sticking around is defensive tackle Alan Branch. He's expected to return on a 2-year, $12 million deal.

Branch, who came into the league in 2007, had his best statistical year in 2016, earning 49 tackles during his third year in New England.

Safety Duron Harmon will also remain with the team, signing a four-year deal.

AP Photo/Elise Amendola