Broekwater Patriots, 2 times defending champion of DLE started the 6th DLE season really strong, winning 6 straight, no signs of Superbowl hangover. Then lost the last 3 games, so entered the midseason trade window with a 67% record. More importantly, lost a couple of important players.

Philip Blake - Block/Guard lineman - DIED
Kelechi Osemele - +STR/Block/Guard/Fend lineman - DIED
Kyle Piwowarczyk - Block/Guard/Tackle lineman - DIED
Khalil Mack - +STR/Frenzy/MightyBlow/Tackle/PilingOn blitzer - AV busted

And not even mentioning the losses from last season. Injuries were piling up. The front office realized that an overhaul must be scheduled. The only question was when it will be due. It could be done after the end of the season, it could be done after next season...
...or as an option it was, it can be done immediately.

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So to execute the plan, the GM wasted no time, and traded away

1. Marquise Goodwin - +MA/+MA/Sprint catcher
He went to the Gunners, an underachieving competitor, who will now have an almost unstoppable 1turning unit with 2 ag5 ma9 catchers, and a natural 1 turner. Gunners try to get a hold of their weak division.

2. Ted McElroy - DirtyPlayer lineman
Dion Sanders - MightyBlow/Guard/-AG blitzer
They both went to the Sharks. They are in the other conference

3. Lawrence Milloy - Block/DirtyPlayer lineman
Went to the Vikings, a wild card prospect team of the other conference. They are making a push for the playoffs.

4. Simon - +AV/Wrestle lineman
Was part of a big deal with big competitor, the Foxes. The foxes got him and a very early current 2nd round pick, plus a 4th rounder in exchange of a future 1st and 2nd round pick. Foxes will be stronger on the short term due to that move.

5. Khalil Mack - +STR/Frenzy/MightyBlow/Tackle/PilingOn blitzer - AV busted
He went to the new powerhouse Eagles, who emerged in the KFCS. Eagles brought in a couple of +STR players, and making an extremely strong push to win now. This is a trade which went down quite quickly after both teams realized they are at the opposite phase of their development cycle.

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Big overhaul indeed. The team brought in a triplet of developmental +AV linemen, a developmental killer blitzer, some guard in lineman. The team will also give a chance for rookie blitzer Fred Bruschi to develop into something awesome and scary. He will get full support in the developmental plan, and it is only up to him to realize his potential.

Patriots office is fully aware that performance will suffer. Shipping Mack and replace him with a rookie will affect results. So the team decreased the expectation, any playoff spot will do, not aiming for bye week. Realistically 9 points in the last 7 games are needed for a Wild Card spot. The development of the youngsters will be the priority. The coaching staff has been given some leeway at producing points, but got added pressure by scheming up training formations, and execute them. (Target is to get at least 7 more level ups totaling minimum 14, which is possibly a new DLE record for a season.)
...And once they are at playoffs, must be ready to step up and deliver. Defending the title and winning 3 in a row is still a target, but its chances has decreased.

On the other hand the future is bright. Patriots secured a big pile of future draft picks, which will allow refill at will, and complete an eventual rebuild later on. Or in case of good fortune, like skilling and avoiding injuries, they would allow the purchase of a new difference maker.

And as the Pats saying: On to the next opponent!