Edge defender Josh Uche might not be the only Patriot to find a new home in the coming days, as defensive tackle Davon Godchaux is reportedly on the trade block. Originally joining the Patriots on a two-year contract in the 2021 offseason, the former Miami Dolphin has provided a steady presence along the interior of New England’s defensive line for years on end. The Patriots signed him to a two-year extension in the 2024 offseason, but that won’t be enough to keep him around for the duration of the deal.
Davon Godchaux is reportedly “shocked” by these trade rumors, but they make sense. At 2-6, New England will not make the playoffs and the rebuilding Patriots should get as many draft picks as possible. The Patriots landed their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, so now it’s time for them to build around the UNC product. Looking around the league, the Los Angeles Chargers make the most sense for Godchaux.
Chargers, Patriots Connected in Davon Godchaux Trade Rumors
At 4-3, head coach Jim Harbaugh has the Los Angeles Chargers in the thick of the playoff race. After a slow and injury-plagued start to the season, Justin Herbert is back to his old self and playing like the best quarterback in the league. Over the past two or three games, the former first-round pick has elevated the receivers around him and helped turn second-round pick Ladd McConkey into a household name. While trading for another wide receiver wouldn’t hurt, Harbaugh’s old-school mentality may lead to a Davon Godchaux trade.
no QB has played better than Justin Herbert over the last three weeks pic.twitter.com/csfOuHziCf
— Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) October 28, 2024
Nobody believes in the power of the run game more than Harbaugh, and the past few weeks proved that Herbert can get by with his current group of wide receivers. Harbaugh believes games are won and lost in the trenches and could use the trade deadline to add players like Davon Godchaux to reinforce his defensive line. Edge defender Khalil Mack and defensive tackle Poona Ford are having wonderful seasons, but they can’t do it all by themselves. Godchaux might not be much of a pass rusher, but he knows how to eat space and clog rushing lanes. This likely places him high on Harbaugh’s wish list, but what would a deal actually look like?
Possible Trade Terms
Davon Godchaux is a reliable player, but he’s not the game-changing player who justifies a blockbuster trade. Some teams refuse to deal players for insignificant returns, but the New England Patriots are not one of those teams. The six-time Super Bowl champions recently traded pass rusher Josh Uche for a 2026 sixth-round pick, which shows they’ll take any picks they can get.
Uche and Godchaux are effectively polar opposites of one another, as Godchaux excels as an early-down run defender while Uche is best used as a situational pass rusher. Seeing as Davon Godchaux has a stronger track record, he should net a slightly larger return in a trade – especially since he won’t be a free agent until after the 2026 season. With all this in mind, a fifth-round pick should be enough to make both sides happy.
Main Photo: Gregory Fisher – USA Today Sports
