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Five-time Pro Bowler reveals he was nearly traded to the Patriots

The New England Patriots had an incredible run in the 2010s, winning three Super Bowls and making it to two more.

During that stretch, New England got some impressive play out of Julian Edelman as the team's slot receiver. However, the Patriots nearly made a trade that would've ended Edelman's tenure before he really popped on offense.

On a recent episode of Edelman's "Games with Names" podcast, five-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Fame semifinalist Steve Smith revealed that he was nearly traded to the Patriots.

"My agent had worked out a trade to go to New England, and Dave Gettleman was the general manager, and he gave me permission to talk to the San Francisco 49ers, but my agent had worked out a deal to go (to the Patriots)," Smith said.