The Patriots have given veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux permission to seek a trade, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Godchaux was mentioned as a trade candidate before the 2024 trade deadline, but he indicated a preference to stay in New England after signing a two-year extension in July. That seems to have changed in recent weeks, possibly because new head coach Mike Vrabel is expected to install his own defensive scheme. That could lead to a reduced role for Godchaux, who has played in all 68 games since signing with the Patriots in 2021.
There are a few teams interested in Godchaux, per Rapoport, though he’s unlikely to fetch significant draft capital on the trade market. The 330-pound nose tackle is a proven run-stopper but offers little pass-rushing upside with just 5.5 career sacks in 120 total appearances.
Godchaux’s contract should not be an obstacle to finding a trade partner. The Patriots have enough cap room to absorb the remaining $6.7MM in signing bonus prorations as dead money and could even eat some of Godchaux’s $4MM fully-guaranteed base salary to facilitate a deal. An acquiring team would pick up the remainder of his 2025 salary as well as $850k in per-game roster bonuses and a $150k workout bonus, per OverTheCap. Godchaux is also due a $6.5MM salary in 2026 with $1.75MM in per-game roster bonuses and a $250k workout bonus, though none of that money is guaranteed.
However, no defensive tackle has netted more than a Day 3 pick in a trade since 2020. Veteran Maliek Collins was traded from the Texans to the 49ers for a seventh-round pick last year, and he brought considerably more pass-rushing prowess than Godchaux. Other teams may look to a deep defensive line class in free agency and the 2025 draft before making a move for Godchaux. Unless the Patriots are especially motivated to deal him – or another team is especially motivated to acquire him – a trade could take a while to come together.