KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 20: Duron Harmon #21 of the New England Patriots celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. The New England Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 37-31. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Matthew Slater has positive things to say about his New England Patriots by Justin Trombino

After the New England Patriots traded him to the Detroit Lions, safety Duron Harmon expressed what Bill Belichick said to him prior to the trade.

It seems like the New England Patriots are enduring a rather stressful offseason — something they haven’t had to deal with in a long time. This offseason has featured the loss of their longtime franchise quarterback, Tom Brady, as well as the departure of the team’s top linebackers in Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins.

The Pats unfortunately also had to part ways with their longtime defensive back, Duron Harmon.

Harmon was drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Patriots. After starting his career as a backup safety, Harmon eventually became an important piece of the team’s defense and even earned himself more of a starting role as his tenure with the Patriots progressed.

In seven seasons with the team, Harmon accounted for 175 tackles and 17 interceptions in 111 games with the Patriots.

He will be most remembered for his 2017 game-sealing interception in the back of the end zone against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which solidified the Patriots’ clinching of the AFC East division. The Patriots went on to lose in the Super Bowl that year to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Harmon was on a recent episode of the McCourty twins’ podcast called “The Double Coverage Podcast” hosted by his former secondary brothers, Devin and Jason McCourty. The three ex-teammates discussed their playing years together and how the Patriots went about informing Harmon of his eventful trade to the Detroit Lions:

“He [Belichick] told me, ‘Look, it’s just at the point where we have to make some moves and we just paid Dev; it’s going to be really tough to really do anything, or get anything done in free agency if we don’t do this.’”

Harmon also went on to say that he respects the decision that Bill Belichick had to make for the team moving forward, and that his landing spot with the Detroit Lions and his former coach, Matt Patricia, was in the best interest for Harmon’s career.

“He was just telling me it’s going to be a great opportunity for me [in Detroit]. I respect that because at the end of the day we know Bill is going to do what is best for the team and I respect that because not a lot of people can do that and have that commitment and dedication that the team is first.”

This situation with Harmon is almost mildly reminiscent of the Jimmy Garoppolo trade a few years back. Although the Patriots received a second-round draft pick in return, Belichick traded Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers because it was in the best interest for Garoppolo to succeed as a player.

Belichick essentially did the same thing in trading Harmon to the Lions for a fifth-round pick (172 overall).

It’s fair to say the New England Patriots are in a bit of a rebuilding phase this offseason, but that still does not eliminate them from making some noise this season once the fall rolls around.