Patriots Trade Pro Bowl Guard Logan Mankins to the Buccaneers
By Jason Lisk
Jay Glazer has reported that the Patriots and Bucs have agreed to a trade involving veteran pro bowl lineman Logan Mankins. Tight end Timothy Wright, who was in a logjam at the position that included rookie Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, will be going to the Patriots along with, according to Adam Schefter, a fourth round pick.
Mankins is 32 years old, and Bill Belichick has repeatedly shown he has been willing to move on from veteran players to reload. Remember the trade of Richard Seymour to Oakland right before the 2009 season (a trade which netted the Patriots LT Nate Solder)?
Mankins has made 5 straight pro bowls (twice when missing 6 or more games in a season) and is in that range for veteran guards where they get pro bowl selections in perpetuity.
It fills a clear need for Tampa Bay–they brought in Richie Incognito for a look earlier this week–and we know that New England loves tight ends. Wright caught 54 passes last year for the Bucs as an undrafted rookie and provides some additional depth behind Gronkowski.