David Andrews

Report: Patriots trade starting center Bryan Stork to Redskins

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:26 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

The New England Patriots are a franchise that tends to buck the NFL trends. They don’t shy from making the unconventional move, like trading their best pass rusher from last season for an offensive guard.

And the Patriots continued making surprising transactions Wednesday. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, New England has traded starting center Bryan Stork to the Washington Redskins for a conditional draft pick.

Wow. #Patriots didn’t cut C Bryan Stork after all… they traded him to the #Redskins, source said. That was unexpected.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2016

Stork had been listed as the first-string center on the team’s depth chart, and he held that position for 17 games in the past two seasons and was the starter in the team’s Super Bowl win two years ago.

The 2014 fourth-round pick hasn’t been the best center in the league by any means, but for a team with issues up front, this is surprising. David Andrews is expected to take over in his place.

Stork was kicked out of practice last week for fighting with the Bears and has dealt with repeated concussion issues, so this move could be a result of one or the other situation – though it’s unlikely he was cut for his behavior in practice.

Earlier reports had suggested Stork was going to be cut, but it appears the Patriots found a trade partner. The Redskins currently have Kory Lichtensteiger at center, but he's recovering from a nerve injury. It's unclear if Stork will take over as the starter.

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