The NFL trade deadline on November 10 at 4 p.m. ET is just hours away. Despite being just days removed from a nasty loss, the 5-4 New England Patriots still view themselves as contenders, which could impact how they run the roster.
“I want to see us do everything we can with the roster that we have or potentially with guys that aren’t there, to continue to improve,” head coach Mike Vrabel said Monday. “That’s the goal here after nine weeks. We played some really good games, were competitive, and then other days where it just wasn’t good enough overall.”
After trading away a 2028 first-round pick last offseason, the Patriots aren’t expected to make any significant investments. But the team has additional Day 3 draft capital this year to add depth to the overall roster.
As for potential targets, here are six targets that could be on the radar.
The Patriots’ run defense has been moving in a positive direction in recent weeks, but the addition of Lopez could help the unit take another step forward. The 29-year-old has shown flashes as a dominant defender inside and would give New England another reliable option in the defensive line rotation. He is also under contract through the 2027 season for a reasonable salary.
Another option along the interior defensive line, Tomlinson has lost some of the passing juice he displayed earlier in his career, but remains a disruptive rotation piece. The 32-year-old is in the final year of his winless contract with the Chargers, with approximately $1.5 million in cash owed to him. That makes him a potentially affordable option over Colts nose tackle Grover Stewart, who is owed about $6 million in cash. Tomlinson also spent the 2024 season with Mike Vrabel in Cleveland.
The Patriots got solid overall production from Elijah Ponder, Dre’Mont Jones and Gabe Jacas on the edge. However, adding another passer could help preserve that production in the long run and bring some more juice to the unit as a whole. The former first-round pick, who has the size and athleticism that New England is on the verge of, has played a rotational role for the Cardinals this season and is in the final year of his contract, potentially making him a feasible deadline target.
The 2-7 Eagles continued to move pieces before the trade deadline Monday, sending defensive tackle Jordan Davis to Jacksonville in exchange for a first- and second-round pick. Could former first-round pick Nolan Smith be next? Despite the Eagles’ struggles, the 25-year-old has been productive, leading the team with 21 pressures this season while remaining a physical defender. Philadelphia also exercised Smith’s fifth-year option this past offseason, keeping him under contract through 2027 with less than $14 million in cash owed to him. His age, production and contract control could make him an attractive addition, although it will require a larger investment than the other names on this list.
New England’s secondary was already without cornerback Charles Woods (hamstring) on Sunday before fellow cornerback Carlton Davis (knee) left the game early. That left Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones with limited depth behind them, while rookies Karon Prunty and Channing Canada were the next options at cornerback. Former Patriot Jonathan Jones has settled into a rotational role with the Eagles, but still offers experience and man coverage ability that could be valuable to an injury-plagued New England secondary.
As noted above, the Patriots are without their 2028 first-round pick after sending him to Philadelphia in the offseason trade for AJ Brown. While New England is focused on competing this season, there is still a broader argument for adding draft capital and rejuvenating the roster. This is likely more of an offseason priority, but the team could explore the trade market to potentially move a veteran on the current roster if the right offer arises.
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