Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Patriots Considered Draft Night Trades From Bears and Texans

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matthew Sullivan | Last updated May 19, 2025 12:45 PM ET

The New England Patriots had a premium selection at the top of the second round during the 2025 NFL Draft. Picking 38th overall, the Patriots would get one of the top remaining available players after the first round of the draft. But before they submitted their pick, a team was trying to move up with New England.

In the Patriots Forged in Foxborough: Episode 1 on YouTube, the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans made calls to move up with New England to pick 38. The first offer the Patriots turned down was from the Bears.

The first offer had the Bears giving up a seventh-round pick to move up just one spot from pick 39 to 38. While their exact target is unknown, they may have been eyeing running back TreVeyon Henderson.

Chicago had been linked to several of the top backs in the draft and could’ve been targeting Henderson, the highest-rated running back still on the board.

After the Patriots turned it down, the Texans made their offer, which was vastly different from the Bears'. The Texans would've sent picks 58, 79, and a 2026 third-round pick for pick 38. It was a very aggressive trade-up attempt from Houston.

While the Texans' target is more of an unknown, the fall from 38 to 58 was too much for the Patriots. The picks gained in the third round in the next two drafts weren't worth it for New England to miss out on Henderson.

Both offers were too risky for the Patriots, as the Bears could've taken Henderson at 38, while the Texans trade would've sent New England down 20 spots. Risking missing out on Henderson was not worth it, especially for a seventh-round pick.

Mike Vrabel and the Patriots front office decided not to take either offer and stuck with Henderson at the 38th overall selection.

Henderson joins a backfield with Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, with a high chance of winning the starting job. The Patriots declined multiple offers to take Henderson, showing how much they value the Ohio State running back.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: