Report reveals return Patriots might get in Bill Belichick trade

Nov 10, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media before an NFL International Series practice at the Deutcher Fussball-Bund facility. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots could try to trade Bill Belichick to another team after their disastrous 2023 season ends, and there is a difference of opinions around the NFL about what the return might look like.

Jeff Howe of The Athletic spoke with a handful of high-ranking team executives to gauge their opinions on the type of draft-pick compensation that the Patriots might receive if they part ways with Belichick, should the 71-year-old want to continue coaching. Three of the executives predicted that New England could get as much as a first-round pick, with one exec saying he believes Belichick would have “multiple suitors.”

Two other executives disagreed. One doubts whether Belichick can implement the so-called “Patriot Way” elsewhere and get the current generation of players to buy into the culture he has been praised for establishing in New England. The same exec also wondered if Belichick would want full roster control with a new team.

“I’ve got a lot of questions with those recent roster moves,” the exec told Howe. “Is he going to just be the coach, or does he want (general manager) responsibilities? Because I’m not trading for that.”

Belichick has 331 career victories, which is 16 shy of Don Shula’s NFL record of 347. That might serve as motivation for him to pursue work with another team if the Patriots do not want him back next season. Since he is still under contract through at least 2024, the Patriots would be entitled to compensation if a team wanted to hire Belichick.

There is precedent for a head coach to be traded for a first-round pick, which most recently happened back in January when the Denver Broncos sent a first-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for Sean Payton.

A longtime Patriots reporter recently linked Belichick to one NFC team. Even if Belichick does want to keep coaching, you have to wonder how much interest he would have in a team that has to give up a first-round pick to acquire him — especially a team that is bad enough to be searching for a new head coach.