Patriots reportedly trade Keion White to 49ers for two draft picks

The New England Patriots are reportedly transferring on from a former second-round choose.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Patriots are buying and selling defensive finish Keion White to the San Francisco 49ers in alternate for a 2026 sixth-round choose and a 2026 seventh-round choose.

It stands as a largely underwhelming return for a 26-year-old participant who recorded 5 sacks final seasons and was a excessive draft choose simply two years in the past. However, the writing was on the wall that White wanted a recent begin elsewhere after failing to carve out a job in Mike Vrabel’s protection.

Considered one of New England’s high pass-rushers final season, White fell behind on New England’s depth chart throughout coaching camp, with Vrabel’s new defensive scheme and the presence of a number of inside pass-rushers like Milton Williams, Khyiris Tonga, and a wholesome Christian Barmore negating White’s high power when it got here to speeding up the intestine to place strain on opposing QBs. 

White was unable to settle right into a groove as extra of an outdoor edge rusher, dropping out a featured position to the likes of Harold Landry and Okay’Lavon Chaisson because the preseason carried on. 

White appeared in simply 5 video games for New England this season, recording simply six whole tackles. He was designated as a wholesome scratch forward of Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns. He logged 17 whole snaps in Week 7 in opposition to the Titans. 

The Georgia Tech product look poised for a breakout season with New England in 2024 after posting 4 sacks over the primary two video games of the 12 months. However, he solely recorded two sacks over his remaining 36-game run in Foxborough earlier than the crew opted to ship him out west. 

Even when White wasn’t a robust slot in Vrabel’s protection, his absence makes New England’s pass-rushing corps a bit thinner. The Patriots’ pass-rushing personnel now options Chaisson, Landry, Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder, and Caleb Murphy on the energetic roster. 

White will look to recoup his worth within the Bay Space, the place his pass-rushing capabilities shall be utilized to account for the lack of Nick Bosa, who suffered a season-ending knee harm in Week 3. 

 

Conor Ryan is a workers author overlaying the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Crimson Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.