The Patriots are staring down the trade deadline with needs all over the roster, but the money situation is making the picture look murkier than the shopping list. The belief around the league is that New England probably won’t land a blockbuster because of limited cap space. Still, that kind of obstacle can disappear fast in the NFL, and that’s enough to keep the Patriots in the mix for several of the biggest names who could be available.
At the top of the board is pass-rush help, and that makes sense given Harold Landry is on the shelf indefinitely. Rookie Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder have stepped up, but the Patriots still need a veteran who can get after the quarterback snap after snap.
Among the names to watch are Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Josh Sweat, YaYa Diaby, Will McDonald IV and Nolan Smith. Based on the chatter from analysts and beat reporters, Mack stands out as the leading candidate because of his production, his pass-rush win rate that matches T.J.
Watt’s, and his price tag.
There’s also a case for New England to keep an eye on the defensive tackle market. Christian Barmore and Milton Williams headline the group, but the Patriots still need a true nose tackle and more support around that pair. Jeffery Simmons and Grover Stewart sit near the top of that conversation, with Simmons standing out because Mike Vrabel drafted him with the Titans in 2019 and Stewart potentially being available in the Colts’ fire sale.
At linebacker, Jordyn Brooks is the lone name on the board, while wide receiver is another spot where New England could look to strike if the price is right. The Patriots already addressed much of that room by signing Romeo Doubs in free agency and trading for A.J.
Brown this summer, but there’s still room for another young playmaker. Quentin Johnston, Josh Downs, Jerry Jeudy and Brian Thomas Jr. are all worth monitoring, and Downs carries an extra layer of interest because he played with Drake Maye at North Carolina.
Brian Thomas Jr. is another young target who could fit that mold. A move like that would deepen a receiver group that has taken on plenty of injuries and could also help prepare for next year, when DeMario Douglas and Mack Hollins could hit free agency.
The backfield is another area where the Patriots may keep making calls. TreVeyon Henderson appears to be regressing in Year 2, and the running game still hasn’t given the offense what it needs.
Jonathan Taylor would be the swing-for-the-fences option if he somehow becomes available, though that seems unlikely even with the Colts’ current fire sale after parting ways with longtime general manager Chris Ballard. If New England wants a more realistic target, Tony Pollard is one name who fits, especially after his career game against the Browns last week.
Offensive line help may be the toughest ask of all, but it might also be the most urgent. The Patriots placed starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker on injured reserve after their Week 6 win over the Jets, and the group has been in rough shape ever since.
They’ve had a third- or fourth-string right guard, a second-string left guard, and backups handling both tackle spots over the last few weeks. Marcus Bryant and Greg Van Roten are eligible to return to the 53-man roster this week, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Patriots need help.
The problem is that linemen rarely get traded, and starting-caliber options are even harder to find. That leaves New England with a thin market and a simple choice: chase the best available names now, or risk being exposed up front for the rest of the season.
In Other News...
Patriots Fans Are Debating One Huge Vrabel Reunion Long Shot
The Patriots have spent enough time looking for more juice up front that it is no surprise one familiar name has surfaced in the conversation. Jeffery Simmons brings the kind of pass-rush impact New England could use, and the Mike Vrabel link only adds to the intrigue, since the Patriots coach already knows what the defensive tackle can do from their time together in Tennessee.
But this is the sort of reunion idea that lives more in the rumor mill than in the real world. The Titans do not sound interested in moving Simmons after extending him this summer, and any team even trying to pry him loose would have to pay a steep price to get Tennessee to listen. For now, it is a reminder that the Patriots can use help on the defensive line, even if the most obvious target is probably out of reach. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Face A Real Week 8 Test Despite Their Offensive Surge
The Patriots head into Week 8 with a chance to measure just how real their offensive surge has been, and the matchup with Miami offers a sturdier barometer than they have seen in recent weeks. New Englands passing game has been the engine behind the turnaround, and the broader conversation around this team now has to include how the offense stacks up when the opponent can answer with a defense built to make life difficult on the ground.
Miami brings its own problems for New England to sort through, with a run defense that has held up well and a rushing attack that has kept the Dolphins balanced even with DeVon Achane out. If the Patriots are going to keep climbing, this is the kind of game that forces them to prove they can do more than just move the ball in favorable spots, especially against a division opponent that knows how to turn a tidy script into a tense fourth quarter. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Fans May Not Like Where This Trade Deadline Is Headed
The Patriots are heading toward the NFL trade deadline in a familiar position: needing help, but not looking like a team prepared to chase it aggressively. New England has dealt with a banged-up roster, yet reports suggest the front office is not actively pursuing major acquisitions, and the clubs high cash spending appears to be part of the reason the room for maneuver is so tight.
National deadline chatter has not featured the Patriots as a clear fit either as buyers or as a source of available players, which is part of what makes this stretch feel so uneventful from the outside. It has the makings of another quiet deadline in Foxborough, where the need for reinforcements is obvious but the path to getting them seems far less so. [Read more 🡒]