Report: Patriots ‘have gauged’ trade interest in Kony Ealy

With their shortage of defensive linemen, the assumption is the Patriots would be looking to add, and not subtract, at the position.

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Phil Perry: Ealy's inconsistent may be behind all this

But according to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero . . .

One to watch in games tonight: Kony Ealy. #Patriots have gauged trade market for him, per sources. Started to settle in lately, though.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 25, 2017

The Patriots acquired Ealy from Carolina this offseason for a second-round draft choice (they also received a third-rounder with Ealy). But he sat, or was held, out of the first day of training camp, and appeared to have difficulty adjusting to the New England way of doing things. Still, with the retirement of Rob Ninkovich and the recent season-ending injury to Derek Rivers, the Pats wouldn't seem to be in position to lose more pass-rushing linemen.