The New England Patriots have spent this entire century doing things their own way.
In a league where trading players is more rare than one might expect, coach Bill Belichick has earned a reputation for constantly churning his roster by swinging deals for coveted puzzle pieces he deems a fit.
The Patriots have already pulled off a pair of recent swaps, sending tight end A.J. Derby to Denver for a 2017 fifth-rounder and acquiring linebacker Kyle Van Noy and a seventh-rounder from the Lions in exchange for a future sixth-round pick.