The Patriots just pulled off a wild move, trading for running back Corey Kiner from the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a 2028 seventh-round draft pick. This deal goes down amidst an absolute roster overhaul as New England slashes its squad, gearing up to face our Seahawks right here in Seattle for Week 1. They’ve got to get down to 53 players by Sunday at 6 PM, and believe me, it’s been a madhouse.
A New RB and a Clear Message from New England
This Kiner trade screams one thing: the Patriots weren’t thrilled with the competition for their No. 3 running back spot. Lan Larison and Hassan Haskins had been duking it out, but clearly, New England wasn’t seeing what it liked. Kiner, a 24-year-old who joined Arizona last season as an undrafted free agent, saw action in four games last year. He put up 58 rushing yards on 12 carries, caught two passes for 15 yards, and even had a 22-yard kickoff return. He also ran for 1,153 yards and four touchdowns for Cincinnati in 2024, showing he’s got some juice. This move means another player gets the boot from the Patriots roster, proving no spot is safe right now.
The Ax Falls Hard: Patriots Shedding Players By The Dozen
While they’re bringing one guy in, the Patriots are sending a ton packing. As of 1 PM, they’d already cut 15 players, with a whopping 23 more moves still needed before they hit that 53-man limit. It’s a bloodbath! Veteran edge rusher Jesse Luketa, who started two of his ten games last season in Arizona, is out. The defensive backfield got hit hard too, with safety Eric Butler released due to an injury designation and safety Peter Manuma also cut. Even cornerback Marcellus Dial is gone, leaving Drake Maye as the sole remaining player from their entire 2024 draft class. Talk about a clean slate!
The cuts don’t stop there. Wide receivers Cameron Dorner, Nick DeGennaro, and Kyle Dixon are all looking for new homes. On the offensive line, tackle Lorenz Metz, with his international exemption, guard Jon’Darius Morgan, guard Darrian Dalcourt, and center Jacob Ritzy have all been released. Defensive players are taking hits, too. Edge rusher Amari Gainer announced his release on social media, joining fellow edge rusher Xavier Holmes and linebacker Riley Wilson out the door. Tight end C.J. Dippre and cornerback Brandon Crossley round out the known cuts so far. This team is being rebuilt right before our eyes.
The Patriots will be putting together their first practice squad by Monday, and then it’s full steam ahead for Week 1. All this chaos is happening just before they roll into Lumen Field to face our Seahawks. This is the team our guys, led by Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed, will be lining up against. Coach Mike Macdonald needs our boys dialed in. The Pats might be figuring out their roster, but we know ours is ready to rumble. Get ready, 12s, it’s almost time!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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