The New England Patriots‘ last draft that Bill Belichick was in charge of was 2023.
After that season, Belichick departed, first for media work, and now in 2025 for the University of North Carolina head football coach position.
Players that Belichick drafted were inherited first by Jerod Mayo, and now by Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel has put his own spin on things, reducing playing time for a number of the Belichick picks, including Keion White.
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ESPN’s Ben Solak thinks it’s about time to send White packing entirely. In a new article, Solak pitches trading White to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick.
“White has completely fallen out of favor in New England,” Solak writes. “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.”
It’d all be part of the process for the Pats. Mayo wasn’t given a long runway, but Vrabel should get the chance to put his imprint on things (especially with New England looking like a winning team right now).
Trading White away wouldn’t be a major deal for the Patriots, but it’d be a signal that Vrabel is continuing to mold this team the way he wants.
