NFL Trade: Raiders acquire an old Josh McDaniels favorite from Patriots

The New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders struck an early morning trade to send an old Josh McDaniels favorite out west.

Hearing that a trade has been made this NFL offseason feels more normal than it seemingly ever has in the past. The entire start of the new league year was defined by moving pieces, and monolithic pieces at that.

Russell Wilson, Davante Adams, Deshaun Watson, and Tyreek Hill are all on new teams, with Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Deebo Samuel potentially on the move soon.

There was another trade made on Thursday morning, however, it was much less seismic than the other deals made this offseason. Still, it’s a move that feels extremely intentional for a new head coach building a new culture with his new team.

According to both Boston reporter James Stewart, and confirmed by SI’s Albert Breer, the Patriots and Raiders are swapping quarterback Jarrett Stidham for late-round lottery tickets otherwise known as third-day draft picks.

Jarrett Stidham trade: Patriots, Raiders make low-risk QB swap

Stidham was obviously with McDaniels during his time in New England and it was no secret that the coach and quarterback had a strong relationship. Anyone who might not have known that does know after McDaniels went out of his way to pry Stidham from his old mentor, Bill Belichick.

It’s a win-win, and a move that might seem low impact on the surface. Stidham ran out of real estate in the Patriots quarterback room once the team drafted Bailey Zappe, who will likely compete with De’Eriq King for the third-string spot behind Brian Hoyer and starter Mac Jones.

Of course any time Belichick makes a trade, especially with a former coach from his staff, one has to wonder what the other shoe is and when it will drop. Stidham isn’t going to compete for the starting job in Las Vegas, rather he’s likely there to help with the transition from the old Raiders offense to the system that McDaniels is going to install. But Belichick is never one to do another coach a favor, even if this seems like exactly that on the surface.