Patriots Trade Idea Lands Raiders LT Amid Contract Holdout

After a busy offseason, there is still one glaring need for the New England Patriots: left tackle. With the NFL Draft on the horizon, the Patriots could look to solve their left tackle issue in the draft. Or, they could call up the Las Vegas Raiders for their left tackle, who’s in the middle of a holdout. This trade idea has the Patriots sending pick 77 in the 2025 NFL Draft for Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller. Miller is looking for a new contract extension, and with the Patriots’ cap space being among the most in the NFL, they would be able to meet his demands.

Miller is currently in the final year of a three-year, $54.015 million deal. A new extension would likely be above $22 million annually, up from $18 million, putting him within the top five highest-paid left tackles in the NFL. According to a report from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Miller is not at the Raiders’ voluntary offseason program. He’s holding out as he’s in the final year of his deal, and is looking for a new extension. This opens the door to a potential deal, as the Raiders could decide to not pay Miller the deal he’s looking to get.

Miller is 29 years old and will be 30 in 2026 when his projected new deal begins. Adding Miller to the Patriots’ offensive line would be a major addition. 2024 starter Vederian Lowe was not good, and adding his replacement is at the top of the Patriots’ remaining priorities heading into the draft. Miller was Pro Football Focus’s 13th highest graded tackle in 2024, and he had the 11th best pass block grade of all tackles as well. Miller struggled to begin the year, but since week five, Miller has allowed just one sack.

With the Patriots’ cap space, a move of this caliber makes a ton of sense. Protecting Drake Maye is a priority, and after adding Miller, the Patriots’ new-look offensive line would be significantly improved from a year ago. Miller has been a solid left tackle since 2020, and after seven seasons in the NFL, this trade idea has the veteran left tackle joining a new organization. The Patriots are in desperate need of a left tackle, and amid Miller’s holdout, the Patriots have the resources and the need to give Miller what he’s looking for.