Patriots trade former 2nd-round pick to 49ers

The New England Patriots have moved on from a player who arrived in Bill Belichick's last draft class.

They've sent a 2023 second-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers.

That player? Keion White.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that White and a seventh-rounder go to San Francisco for a sixth-rounder.

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It was a trade that ESPN's Ben Solak actually predicted in an article earlier on Wednesday.

"White has completely fallen out of favor in New England," Solak wrote on Wednesday morning. "He started last season real hot. In the first half of the year, he was 11th among all defensive linemen in pressure rate and 16th in pass rush win rate. He was especially nasty on the interior, ranking 11th in pass rush win rate when lined up as a defensive tackle. He cooled as the season went on, though -- 34th in pressure rate and 25th in pass rush win rate in the back half of the season... Then a new coaching staff came to town, and White got buried on the depth chart behind K'Lavon Chaisson and Harold Landry III at edge, and below Milton Williams and Khyiris Tonga at defensive tackle. Out of 176 qualifying defensive linemen this season, White is 169th in pressure rate. He is dead last in pass rush win rate, as well: 0 wins on 69 rushes."

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White has two years left on his deal, and the 49ers have battled defensive line injuries, so he'd be a solid fit.

"(White) would have the snap counts necessary in San Francisco to recover his lost form and earn a sizable second contract," Solak writes. "I have the Patriots receiving draft capital back, but I would not be surprised if they instead pursue Jason Pinnock, a depth safety who might find more starting reps in New England."

The Patriots continue to build themselves up in the Mike Vrabel era. Jerod Mayo only got a year after Belichick, but now with the Pats winning under Vrabel, they could shape this team in his vision for the long haul.

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