New England Patriots
The Patriots could use upgrades at running back and several other areas of the depth chart.
For the first time in a long time, it’s looking like we’re going to have a legitimate football season here in New England.
The 4-2 Patriots are currently sitting in first place in the AFC East, with Drake Maye’s emergence and Mike Vrabel’s stewardship over a retooling roster putting New England in a position to go on a run this winter.
But, if New England wants to take advantage of what looks to be a wide-open AFC this season, Eliot Wolf and the Patriots’ top brass might have to be aggressive ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline in order to shore up some deficiencies across the depth chart.
“I don’t know if that has a bearing on it,” Vrabel said Wednesday when asked if his team’s record has any impact on how aggressive they will be at the trade deadline. “We’re just going to continue to try to strengthen the roster each and every day. Sometimes there will be small moves, maybe bigger ones.
“I don’t think right now, our conversations are centered around what our record is currently,” Vrabel added. “Those things can help us build and strengthen us for long-term consistent success. And I think that’s what we should try to do.”
With trade rumors expected to swirl throughout the next few weeks, here’s a quick look at 10 potential trade targets for the Patriots.
RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
If there’s one area that the Patriots need to upgrade in the coming weeks, it’s a listless run game that ranks 26th in the league with just 91.5 rushing yards per game this season.
An impact back like Kamara would be a welcome addition to Maye’s growing arsenal of weapons.
He may not be the All-Pro back he was early in his career with New Orleans, but Kamara can still carve up opposing defenses both on the ground and through the air.
He has surpassed 750 rushing yards in six of his nine seasons in the NFL, while also recording 60 or more catches in six seasons.
WR Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
There is some risk involved with paying a high price for a wideout in Olave who has been plagued by concussion issues in the past.
But, the 25-year-old wideout is also a legitimate downfield threat who would seemingly be coveted by another Ohio State alum in Vrabel.
As evidenced by his 53-yard snag on Sunday against New England, Olave can get downfield in a hurry. He is currently on pace for 111 catches in 2025. He has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in two of his four full seasons in the NFL so far.
RB Breece Hall, New York Jets
It remains to be seen if the 0-6 Jets would even consider dealing their top running back to a divisional rival in New England. But, if Hall is available before the deadline, the Patriots should be one of the teams that come calling.
Much like Kamara, Hall is a Swiss Army Knife on an offensive unit, averaging 4.6 yards per carry in his career while also totaling 133 catches for 1,074 yards across both the 2023 and 2024 season.
Unlike the 30-year-old Kamara, Hall is also just entering the prime of his career at just 24 years old — which will likely raise his trade value even higher if the Jets commit to moving him.
DE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
The Patriots already boast an impact pass-rushing unit and stout defensive line with players like Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Harold Landry, and K’Lavon Chaisson in place.
But, swinging a blockbuster deal for an All-Pro pass rusher in Hendrickson could be a massive add.
Hendrickson — who has recorded a whopping 74.5 sacks over his last 86 games in the NFL — is exactly the type of addition that puts a rising NFL roster over the top come the postseason.
And considering that Hendrickson’s initial holdout this year in Cincinnati was rooted in his desire for a new contract, a franchise flush with cap space like the Patriots would be able to accommodate the 30-year-old veteran’s request.
RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns
Ford may not be as flashy a name as Kamara or Hall, but the fourth-year back offers both upside and security to a Patriots running-back group that has been plagued by turnovers and inefficiency so far this year.
Ford was a bright spot on Cleveland’s offense in 2024, averaging an impressive 5.4 yards per carry (565 yards off 104 rushing attempts) while also getting knocked for just one fumble across his 50-game NFL career.
If the Patriots are looking for another dependable option to slot into the depth chart as both Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson look to find their footing, Ford stands as an intriguing add.
CB Roger McCreary, Tennessee Titans
The Patriots have a very strong cornerback grouping in place between Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, and Carlton Davis. But, if the inevitable injury bug stings this personnel grouping, the depth behind this trio leaves a lot to be desired.
And, if the Patriots are looking to add another reliable option in their defensive backfield, the 5-foot-11 McCreary makes plenty of sense on a cellar-dwelling Titans team.
While Jones is in the midst of a career year, easing some of his reps and avoiding more wear and tear would be beneficial to both player and team — which could open the door for New England to target a nickel corner in McCreary with three interceptions and 17 pass breakups in his career.
McCreary also has plenty of history with Vrabel, as the Patriots head coach was still in Tennessee when the Titans drafted him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Auburn.
Edge Jaelan Phillips, Miami Dolphins
If the Patriots want to opt for more of a value add as they scour the market for pass-rushers, Phillips could make sense as a 26-year-old edge whose game has been hindered by injuries.
A former pass-rushing standout who recorded 22.0 sacks over his first 42 games in the NFL, Phillips has only appeared in 18 games over the last three years due to several injuries. He has just one sack so far this year with Miami, but PFF has him tabbed with a 75.2 PFF pass-rushing grade with 16 pressures and a 17.7% pass-rush win rate.
WR Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
He’s not an explosive pass-catcher, but if New England wants a low-risk, steady receiving option to place alongside wideouts like Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte, an old friend like Meyers would check off plenty of boxes.
Meyers has been as steady as they come over the last few seasons as a no-frills slot wideout, dropping just five passes since the start of the 2023 season.
One of the knocks against Meyers — who surpassed 1,000 yards off of 87 catches last year in Vegas — has been his lack of generating yards after the catch. But the 28-year-old veteran is averaging a career-best 5.6 yards after the catch per reception this year on an underwhelming Raiders offense.
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Baltimore Ravens
After spurning the Patriots in free agency in 2023, could Hopkins make amends as a trade addition for New England this fall? While the 1-5 Ravens have been a massive disappointment this season, Hopkins has been a bright spot.
The 33-year-old wideout and five-time Pro Bowler has reeled in nine catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns this year, with PFF’s 92.7 receiving grade for Hopkins standing as the second-highest mark amongst receivers so far this year.
He’s not the All-Pro talent he was during his days with Houston and Arizona, but Hopkins would be a dangerous addition to a Patriots receiver corps already on the come-up.
LB Jamal Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
A Patriots linebacker group that was already thin entering this season could use some reinforcements, especially when it comes to an addition that can hold his own in coverage.
Adams — who has spent a majority of his career as a physical safety — could fit the bill after converting to linebacker this season with Las Vegas.
The former All-Pro defensive back isn’t going to be a featured player on defense at this stage of his career, but Adams sports an 78.7 PFF coverage grade and only 47 yards allowed on 70 coverage snaps so far this year with the Raiders.
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