With roster cutdowns closing in, the Patriots are entering the part of August where one small move can clean up a messy depth chart. New England already saw plenty of encouraging performances in Week 1 against the Colts, and the second preseason game against the Eagles will give more players a chance to push their way onto the roster. But if the Patriots decide they need outside help, there are a few trade paths that make sense.
The idea isn’t new in Foxborough. The Patriots have used this window before, most notably in 2023, when they completed three trades over three straight days from August 27-29. They didn’t make a move before cutdown day last season, but this year could be different if the right players become available around the league.
One possible target is Colts tight end Will Mallory. In the Patriots’ 13-13 tie with Indianapolis, Mallory stood out on the other sideline, catching six passes on seven targets for 80 yards. That kind of production only highlighted how much New England’s own tight end coverage issues from last season have carried into preseason.
Mallory was a fifth-round pick by the Colts in 2023 after a five-year run at Miami. He caught 18 passes for 207 yards as a rookie, then has totaled just five receptions for 45 yards over the last two seasons combined, playing in 12 games total.
He’s now in a contract year, and Indianapolis already has Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox, and Drew Ogletree on the roster ahead of him. That could make him available for a draft pick.
For New England, the fit is about adding a pass catcher to the tight end room. The Patriots also drafted Eli Raridon and recently extended Hunter Henry, which makes a move like this less urgent.
Still, if C.J. Dippre, Jack Westover, or Tanner Arkin fail to separate themselves, Mallory would be a sensible swing.
A 2027 sixth-round pick for Mallory and a 2028 seventh-rounder is one possible framework.
The offensive line is another spot that could force New England’s hand. Ben Brown went down with an injury Thursday, and that’s a bigger setback than it might look at first glance.
He’s expected to miss the rest of the preseason, and the line has already had issues with penalties. James Hudson and UDFA Jacob Rizy are among the players competing for backup work on the interior, but if none of them seize the job, the Patriots could turn to the trade market.
One name to watch is Eagles interior lineman Willie Lampkin. New England already made a major trade with Philadelphia in June, and the Patriots could circle back if Lampkin continues to draw attention during joint practices. He arrived in Philadelphia as an undrafted rookie in 2025 after spending last preseason with the Rams, who later lost him to the Eagles on waivers.
Lampkin is listed at 5-foot-11 and 290 pounds, and he’s been turning heads as an undersized center even though that wasn’t his main college position. Across more than 4,100 offensive snaps at Coastal Carolina and UNC, just 22.7% came at center, while the rest came at guard.
All 851 of his snaps in 2024 came at guard. ESPN lists 2025 fifth-round pick Drew Kendall ahead of him at center, while former Rutgers tackle Hollin Pierce is the backup at right guard behind Tyler Steen.
Steen is out of contract at the end of the year.
That setup could make Philadelphia reluctant to move Lampkin, especially with Steen potentially leaving in 2027. But from the Patriots’ side, Brown’s injury and Mike Onwenu’s contract-year status make interior depth a real need. A conditional 2028 sixth-round pick, with incentives tied to playing time, would be a reasonable price for a versatile lineman who has been drawing notice.
The linebacker spot is the third area where a trade could help. New England stripped down the position this offseason by letting Jack Gibbens walk, releasing Jahlani Tavai, and trading Marte Mapu. That left depth concerns, even if Week 1 offered some encouraging signs.
K.J. Britt posted a 96.8 PFF grade in Thursday’s game, and UDFA Khalil Jacobs also impressed while playing 50 defensive snaps.
Chad Muma has generated camp buzz, but he didn’t show much against Indianapolis. If that backup group keeps producing, a trade may not be needed.
If it slips, Pittsburgh linebacker Malik Harrison becomes a name to monitor.
Harrison just finished his sixth NFL season and his first with the Steelers after five years with the Ravens. He recorded 41 tackles in 11 games last season, but he’s currently listed as Pittsburgh’s fifth linebacker behind Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, and Elandon Roberts.
That has made him expendable, and he may end up being released. A conditional late-round pick, with the condition that he plays at least 12 games, would fit the situation.
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