Shaun Wade trade gives Patriots exactly what they need at cornerback

The New England Patriots traded a pair of late-round picks for rookie cornerback Shaun Wade, a move that gives Bill Belichick exactly what he needs.

Especially with final roster cuts approaching, you know that Bill Belichick is working hard to do whatever possible to improve the New England Patriots roster. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that he completed a trade on Thursday that will bring fifth-round rookie cornerback Shaun Wade to Foxborough from Baltimore, as reported by NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

Wade went into his final year at Ohio State with many projecting the cornerback to be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Instead, a move outside after having largely played in the slot did not go to plan. The cornerback’s draft stock took a big hit and he tumbled down the board, falling even further than most expected him to before Baltimore selected him in Round 5.

Considering what he showed earlier in his college career, though, the thought remains that Wade can be a quality NFL player, though not suitable for every role. And it’s a small sample size, but he’s already showing that, which is what Belichick and the Patriots are taking advantage of. However, New England is also approaching this with admirable savvy.

Shaun Wade could potentially play now for the Patriots but also offers long-term options.

Wade has only played 25 defensive snaps over two games in the preseason with Baltimore, but it’s hard to argue with the performance he’s put forth. PFF noted on Twitter that the Ohio State product was tied for the best opposing passer rating when targeted so far in the preseason among rookies. And for those keeping track at home, he couldn’t have been any better, allowing a 0.0 rating.

Especially with Stephon Gilmore on the field, the Patriots aren’t necessarily hurting at cornerback. Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones and free-agent signee Jalen Mills all fill different roles and have veteran experience. They also have continued to get looks at young JoeJuan Williams in hopes that he can develop into a steal for them.

However, there also aren’t any stars outside of Gilmore in that group, which could allow Wade to come in and compete for playing time if his preseason performance carries over into practice with New England. Moreover, Gilmore is 30 years old and the majority of the Pats’ key contributors at corner aren’t particularly young. Thus, having youth to possibly add to the roster and provide a future at the position is key.

Considering that the Patriots gave up only a 2022 seventh-round pick and a 2023 fifth-round pick for Shaun Wade, this is a low-risk investment from the jump. But with the outlook for New England’s defense now and moving forward, it’s potentially an extremely high-reward trade for the franchise as well.