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Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The trade: Tampa Bay Buccaneers send TE O.J. Howard to New England Patriots in exchange for a first-round pick

The New England Patriots don't seem like a team to panic while trying to squeeze the most out of an aging future Hall of Famer under center.

But the front office did go after Antonio Brown, after all.

Perhaps Bill Belichick and Co. dial it back a bit this offseason given the backfire there. But a big move for a safer, long-term option that helps them contend now and later makes plenty of sense, hence the idea of a move for Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard.

Call it potential immediate production in exchange for a draft pick not guaranteed to produce a year removed from drafting N'Keal Harry in the first round and only getting 12 catches from him. The Buccaneers might posture like Howard isn't available, but there's no arguing he's disappointed compared to expectations with just 34 catches and one score last year on a team that threw 33 touchdowns.

From a Patriots perspective, the idea here is to acquire the No. 19 pick in the 2017 draft and put him in a better place to succeed, as is wont to happen with Tom Brady under center. The Patriots get a big-time weapon with potentially two years left on his rookie deal, and the Buccaneers acquire another top-25 selection to spur a rebuild.