Patriots Get Running Back LeGarrette Blount in Trade for Jeff Demps

The Patriots have been busy on draft weekend this year, and they just made another move to upgrade their roster.

Just as reports of “aggressive discussions” about trading return specialist Jeff Demps began to sprout up, the Patriots made things official dealing him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Tom E. Curran of CSNNE. The club announced the deal via Twitter as well, adding the deal was pending the trade terms.

The Patriots agreed to deal Demps and a seventh-round pick (No. 229 overall) to the Bucs in exchange for running back LeGarrette Blount.

Blount was very productive in his first two NFL seasons, gaining over 1,700 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns, but he took a backseat to rookie Doug Martin in 2012. Head coach Greg Schiano preferred Martin over Blount and the numbers proved that with Martin carrying the ball 319 times to Blount’s mere 41.

Blount won’t be expected to take on a feature role in New England, either. With Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen slated in as the Patriots’ primary backs, Blount will likely compete for the third tailback role with second-year back Brandon Bolden.

The hope is that he will add some good depth and can be the punishing between-the-tackles runner and take the lead in short-yardage like he showed during his first two seasons.

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Photo via Facebook/LeGarrette Blount