The Patriots have already shown one obvious thing through four games: when the run defense gets stressed, the whole unit starts to wobble. That’s why a trade deadline move for a true nose tackle deserves real attention, especially if New England wants to keep riding the momentum from Sunday’s 29-26 win over Buffalo.
The offense finally looked like it had some life against the Bills, and with A.J. Brown back and Romeo Doubs emerging, that side of the ball appears headed in the right direction.
But the defense is a different story. New England opened the season by allowing just 16 points across the first two weeks, though that early number may have been helped more by shaky opposing offenses than by dominant play.
Over the last two games, the Patriots gave up 35 points to Jacksonville and 26 to Buffalo.
Some of those struggles came with key absences. Dre'Mont Jones and Craig Woodson were out against the Jaguars, and Christian Barmore plus Christian Gonzalez were missing against the Bills.
A healthier roster should help. Still, the same issue keeps showing up: stopping the run.
New England let Khyiris Tonga leave in the offseason and has leaned heavily on Cory Durden, who is about 30 pounds lighter than the Chiefs' new nose tackle. That size gap has mattered. A run defense that ranked 6th in yards allowed per game in 2025 has dropped to 14th, even though it has faced fewer rushing attempts per game.
So while the Patriots have been run on less often than they were a year ago, opponents have still piled up more yards. That’s not the kind of trend you want to shrug off this early in the season.
The numbers from recent weeks make the concern even clearer. James Cook ran for 6.3 YPC against New England on Sunday.
Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez both topped 4.5 YPC against Jacksonville, and each scored. In Week 1, Jadarian Price averaged 5.2 YPC on double-digit carries for the Seahawks.
Outside of staying healthy, adding a real nose tackle could give Zak Kuhr’s defense exactly the kind of jolt it needs.
DaQuan Jones was added in Week 2, but he hasn’t made much of a dent so far. In 51 snaps, he has a 33.7 PFF grade and a 34.2 grade against the run. As a pass rusher, he has just one pressure and a 3.6% pressure rate.
That’s why Washington stands out as a possible trade partner. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently listed Da’Ron Payne among the premier trade candidates, and he could fit what New England is missing.
The Commanders dropped to 1-3 after losing to the Colts in London on Sunday morning. Jayden Daniels missing the game hurt, and Marcus Mariota’s injury forced Washington to finish with seventh-round pick Athan Kaliakmanis.
Daniels is expected back Sunday against the Giants, but the schedule turns brutal after that. Washington still has the 49ers, Eagles, and Rams ahead before a Week 5 rematch at MetLife.
If the Commanders stumble through that stretch, they could be sitting at 3-6 by the trade deadline even if they beat the Giants, and that’s far from guaranteed. With Dan Quinn’s team potentially sliding into seller mode, expensive players in the final year of their deal become obvious names to move.
Payne fits that description. He’s 29, in the final year of his contract, and is on the books for just shy of $28 million.
He won’t hit free agency until 2027, but Washington would have to decide whether a long-term commitment makes sense for a team that could be heading in the wrong direction. The case for keeping him is not a strong one.
For the Patriots, the appeal is simpler. If they keep rolling through an easier stretch of the schedule, Payne could be a strong half-season rental, even if it costs a Day 3 pick.
New England would take on most of his deal, more than $22 million, and a future extension would create an intriguing trio with Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. But that would also require cap maneuvering, especially if Drake Maye gets extended this offseason.
Payne may not be a long-term piece of the puzzle, but if he’s available, he’d be one of the better players on the market. For a Patriots defense with a clear problem up front, that’s the kind of opportunity they can’t afford to ignore.
In Other News...
Patriots Have A Gabe Jacas Opportunity They Can't Ignore
The Patriots pass-rush picture has been thinned by losses and injuries, and it has left the edge group looking like an area that still needs real help. In that context, Khalil Mack stands out as more than just a name to monitor. He would bring the kind of proven depth New England can use right now, while also offering a veteran presence that could matter for a young player like Gabe Jacas as he continues to carve out his role.
Jacas is the kind of prospect who can benefit from seeing how a seasoned pro like Mack prepares, rushes and wins at the line of scrimmage. There are enough similarities between the two that the fit makes sense on paper, and the Patriots have reason to think about more than just short-term production here. If New England wants to stabilize the position while also giving Jacas a better runway, this is the sort of move that deserves real consideration. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Are Getting Early Proof They Made The Right WR Call
The Patriots remade their wide receiver room in a major way this offseason, bringing in A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs while moving on from Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte. Brown landing on injured reserve early in the season left the group without its most prominent addition, so the early returns have fallen more heavily on Doubs, who had a shaky start but has begun to settle in over the past few games.
For New England, the bigger-picture benefit is starting to show in contrast elsewhere. Michael Pittman Jr., dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers, has gotten off to an underwhelming start relative to the extension that followed him there, which makes the Patriots decision tree look a little clearer for now. The season is still young, but the early evidence suggests New England may have been right to bet on change at receiver, even if the full payoff is still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Former Patriots Draft Pick Just Got Another NFL Opportunity
Jam Miller is getting another NFL look after a winding start to his pro career, with the Falcons turning to the former Patriots seventh-round pick as they reshuffle the back end of their running back room. Atlanta waived undrafted back Cash Jones and brought in Miller to fill the spot, a move that keeps the teams roster flexible while it sorts through depth behind its current top options.
The transaction also fits a familiar late-summer pattern for running backs trying to stick, where one move on the active roster can trigger a chain reaction on the practice squad. Jones and Tyler Goodson were both released from the active roster before being re-signed to the practice squad, though Goodson later landed with the Cowboys, and Atlanta now carries three running backs on the active roster as Miller gets his latest chance to show he belongs. [Read more 🡒]