The Patriots traded guard Caedan Wallace in a rare in-division deal with the Dolphins on Monday.
Wallace was traded, along with a 2029 seventh-round pick, to the Dolphins for a 2028 sixth-round pick. He was reportedly set to be released before the Patriots and Dolphins agreed to a trade.
The Patriots used the open roster spot to re-sign long snapper Niko Lalos.
Wallace, 26, was selected 68th overall in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Penn State. The Patriots expected Wallace, a college right tackle, to change positions and compete for a starting job at left tackle as a rookie. He suffered an ankle injury and appeared in just six games with two starts in 2024.
The 6-foot-5, 314-pound offensive lineman switched to guard during the 2025 offseason and played in just four regular-season games as a second-year pro.
Wallace had recently missed time in training camp with an injury. Prior to suffering the injury, he had fallen down the depth chart. He started camp repping at guard with the second-team unit. He was passed by Mehki Butler, a practice squad player in 2025, before suffering the injury. The Patriots then moved James Hudson from tackle to guard to replace Wallace on the second string.
Wallace was the 14th tackle selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Patriots now have just two players left from their eight-man 2024 draft class in quarterback Drake Maye and slot cornerback Marcellas Dial. The Patriots cut guard Layden Robinson, wide receiver Javon Baker and tight end Jaheim Bell. They also traded wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, who’s now retired, to the Saints and quarterback Joe Milton III to the Cowboys.
Maye was a huge hit with the third overall pick and salvaged a nearly disastrous 2024 draft class. He finished second in NFL MVP voting last season and took the team to Super Bowl LX.
The Patriots do still have two undrafted free agents from the 2024 NFL Draft class — safety Dell Pettus and running back Terrell Jennings — on their 90-man roster.