Report: Pats Call Chargers amid Keenan Allen, Mack, Bosa, Mike Williams Trade Rumors

The New England Patriots reportedly "checked in" with the Los Angeles Chargers about possible trade candidates at a time when wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen and edge-rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack are all the subject of rumors linking them to a potential change of scenery.

Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reported the Patriots, who are flush with cap space, held talks with Los Angeles as it explores ways to duck under the cap.

The Chargers are nearly $26 million over the cap and need to get under cap before Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.

The Patriots have been heavily linked to wide receiver Calvin Ridley but have otherwise been surprisingly quiet in the legal tampering period. They don't need to be particularly aggressive with the opportunity to roll over space into 2025 but would likely seize on any opportunity to land a high-profile veteran at a discount.

Of the Chargers' notables, Williams feels like a mortal lock to be headed elsewhere in the coming days. The Chargers can save $20 million on their cap by trading or releasing him, and the seven-year pro is coming off an ACL tear and turns 30 in October.

Bosa has been limited to 14 games over the last two seasons and has a $36.6 million cap hit. The Chargers would save $14.4 million by moving on.

Los Angeles would likely prefer to retain Mack and Allen, who remain stellar despite their advancing age, but will need extensions for both to make that happen. The Chargers could save around $35 million by extending both stars, who are set to be free agents at the end of the 2024 season.