Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux was granted permission to seek a trade by the New England Patriots, NFL Network reported Wednesday.
The team signed Godchaux to a two-year, $18 million contract extension in July. However, Godchaux’s role could be diminished in new head coach Mike Vrabel’s defensive scheme.
In 2025, Godchaux is due a base salary of $4 million while carrying a cap hit of $8.3 million and a dead cap value of $10.67 million, per Spotrac.
Godchaux, 30, has started every game for the Patriots the past three seasons. He has 429 tackles — 20 for loss — and 5.5 sacks in 120 career games (109 starts) for the Miami Dolphins (2017-20) and Patriots. The former fifth-round pick also has 26 quarterback hits.
The report comes amid questions about the return of Christian Barmore, who was limited to four games in 2024 due to blood clots. Vrabel said it was “too soon to tell” about Barmore’s status.
“There will be a checkup for where he’s at medically as we move closer to April,” Vrabel told reporters at the Scouting Combine. “But he seems to have the energy and the attitude that would be exciting to work with.”
Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots in July and returned to play four games late in the season before suffering a recurrence, landing him on the non-football illness list.
General manager Eliot Wolf said the Patriots “don’t know for sure yet” about Barmore’s 2025 status.
“The one thing we know is that he’s working out in Tampa right now and that’s going really well from the reports we’ve gotten. He’s doing everything in his power,” Wolf said. “He wants to play football, and that’s one of the things I’ve always admired about Christian is how passionate he is. He doesn’t want to let anyone down. And he’s passionate about getting back on the field.”
Barmore, 25, signed a four-year, $83 million contract last April.
The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Barmore paced the Patriots with a career-high 8.5 sacks in 17 games (six starts) in 2023, also setting career highs in tackles (64), quarterback hits (16) and pass breakups (six).
Barmore has recorded 12.5 sacks, 32 QB hits and 133 tackles in 44 career games (11 starts).
Many of the top defensive line prospects told reporters they’ve had formal interviews with Vrabel and Wolf this week at the Combine in Indianapolis or are planning to before the event ends.
