New England Patriots could get the best out of Shaun Wade

The New England Patriots are trading for Baltimore Ravens draft pick Shaun Wade. Can they get the best out of him?

In a rare trade of a rookie drafted not four months ago, the Baltimore Ravens traded defensive back Shaun Wade to the New England Patriots for a seventh round pick in 2022 and a fifth round pick in 2023. It’s clear that the Ravens didn’t have a lot of room for Wade in their secondary, one of the deepest in the league, and flipped him for some future draft selections.

The Patriots aren’t afraid to make moves to acquire talent, whether it be midseason moves or in the offseason. They’ve also taken on players with smaller contracts to add to their defense who they get the most out of. Now, they take a shot here on Wade.

Shaun Wade was a highly touted prospect last summer coming into the 2020 season, as he looked impressive in coverage in the slot in previous seasons and had good eyes and discipline in coverage when getting reps at safety. He moved to the perimeter in 2020 and struggled staying patient, getting beat consistently throughout the year, most notably by Devonta Smith in the National Championship.

Could the Patriots get the best out of Wade? It’s certainly possible. Players like Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts both have done very well in their time in New England. JC Jackson has become a household name at corner. Second year edge rusher Josh Uche is getting rave reviews out of camp so far. The Patriot way clearly works on the defensive side of the ball with Bill Belichick and his staff.

Wade will likely move back inside to the slot and get some work at box safety, where he’s been very good with his keys near the line of scrimmage. He takes good angles to the ball and is a reliable tackler in space, which is something Belichick will appreciate. The slot position is still an open competition, so Wade could find a way to get snaps in his rookie season.

This trade could end up a win-win for the Ravens and Patriots, as the Ravens get future capital rather than cutting Wade and Patriots get a potential role player on their defense. If anyone can get the best out of Shaun Wade, it’s Belichick and the New England Patriots.