The Patriots have acquired 33-year old WR Chad Ocho Cinco from the Bengals for a 5th round pick in 2012 and a 6th round pick in 2013.  Ocho Cinco played in 14 games (12 starts) for the Bengals last year and he caught 67 passes for 831 yards (12.4 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  He has now played in 151 games (132 starts) in his first 10 years in the NFL and he has caught 751 passes for 10,783 yards (14.4 avg) with 66 TD grabs.  Ocho Cinco also has carried the ball 24 times for 175 yards (7.3 ypc) in his NFL career.  Ocho Cinco has made it to 6 Pro Bowls in his first 10 years in the NFL.  He could make it to his 7th Pro Bowl in 2011 if he can stay healthy because he will be catching passes from Tom Brady now.  I love this pickup for the Patriots as they didn’t give up too much to get Ocho Cinco.

The Patriots have acquired 30-year old DT Albert Haynesworth from the Redskins for a 5th round pick in 2013.  Haynesworth played in only 8 games for the Redskins last year (he was in Mike Shanahan’s Dog House) and he had 16 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and 1 pass defensed.  He has now played in 110 games in his first 9 years in the NFL and he has 324 tackles, 49 tackles for a loss, 30.5 sacks, 24 passes defensed, 6 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries.  This is the kind of player that turns around in New England.  They didn’t give up much to take a chance on the former Pro Bowler, so it was worth taking a shot on him.

The Patriots have acquired 31-year old WR Deion Branch from the Seahawks for a 4th round pick in 2011.  Branch played in 4 games for the Seahawks this year and he has caught 13 passes for 112 yards (8.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 104 games in his NFL career and he has 403 catches for 5,091 yards (12.6 avg) with 29 TD grabs.  Branch played in 53 games for the Patriots in the first four years of his NFL career and he caught 213 passes for 2,744 yards (12.9 avg) with 14 TD grabs.  This was a good trade for the Patriots as Branch is a player that Tom Brady likes to throw the ball to.

The Patriots have dealt 33-year old WR Randy Moss and a 7th round pick in 2012 to the Vikings for a 3rd round pick in 2011.  Moss played in 4 games for the Patriots this year and he caught 9 passes for 139 yards (15.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He played in 52 games in his four years with the Vikings and he caught 259 passes for 3,904 yards (15.1 avg) with 50 TD grabs.  Moss seemed to get on Coach Belichick’s bad side which likely had a lot to do with this deal. 

The Patriots have traded 25-year old RB Laurence Maroney and a sixth round pick in 2011 to the Broncos for a fourth round pick in 2011.  Maroney played in 45 games in his four years with the Patriots and he carried the ball 582 times for 2,430 yards (4.2 ypc) with 21 TD runs.  He also caught 40 passes for 409 yards (10.3 avg) with 1 TD grab and he also returned 41 kickoffs for 1,062 yards (25.9 avg) for the Patriots.  Maroney was in the Bill Belichick’s Dog House so it was good of the Patriots to deal him so they could get something in return.

The Patriots have acquired 25-year old safety Jarrad Page from the Chiefs for a conditional draft pick.  Page played in 5 games (all starts) for the Chiefs last season and he had 19 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble.  Page has now played in 53 games (39 starts) in his four years in the NFL and he has 198 tackles, 1 sack, 25 passes defensed, 10 interceptions and 4 forced fumbles.  This was a solid move for the Patriots as Page is a pretty good safety.

The Patriots have acquired 29-year old linebacker Tracy White from the Eagles for a conditional late round pick in 2012.  White played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Eagles last season and he had 35 tackles, defensed 3 passes and he had 1 interception.  White  has now played in 94 games (2 starts) in his 7 years in the NFL and he has 122 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 1 interception.  White  will provide depth at linebacker and help on special teams for the Patriots in 2010.

The Patriots have acquired 26-year old G/T Quinn Ojinnaka from the Atlanta Falcons for a undisclosed future draft pick.  He played in 9 games (5 starts) last season for the Falcons.  He has now played in 39 games (12 starts) in his four years in the NFL.  Ojinnaka has been suspended for the first game of the year by the NFL due to domestic battery.  This was likely a good deal for the Patriots due to the status of the offensive line right now.

The Patriots have acquired 25-year old linebacker Prescott Burgess from the Ravens for a conditional 7th round pick.  Burgess played in both games for the Ravens this season making 2 tackles.  He has now played in 10 games in his 3-year NFL career and he has six whopping tackles.  The Patriots are hoping that Burgess steps up because they need the help.

There has been a confusing twist to the recent news that New England Patriots defensive lineman, Richard Seymour, was traded to the Oakland Raiders; he has yet to show up in Oakland.  Raiders coach Tom Cable told reporters Monday that Seymour wants to play in Oakland but still has to work things out with the Patriots. 

What is confusing is what exactly could Seymour be trying to work out with the Patriots?  Usually the only things that hold these types of trades up is if the player fails a physical, or something of that nature.  If something like that occurs, either team can ask for the trade to be reversed but neither the Raiders or Patriots have done that.  So, it seems like Seymour just doesn’t want to go to Oakland… but who can blame him? He is going from the most successful franchise of the last decade to one of the worst. 

When (and if) the trade is finalized the Patriots will get Oakland’s 2011 first round draft pick which will most likely be a top 10 pick judging by the Raiders’ dismal records of recent years.  Seymour is a five time Pro Bowler and is still a Pro Bowl caliber defender, but his contract is up after this year and he probably won’t want to stay in the Raiders’ organization.  So, it looks like the Patriots will end up at the better end of this deal.  It wouldn’t be suprising if the Patriots resign Seymour when he becomes a free agent at the end of this season.