The Patriots have had an active offseason, and with the acquisition of A.J. Brown on June 1, they added an elite wide receiver to their ranks. It remains to be seen if Brown will be the fit everyone expects him to be in New England, but there's little doubt the team as a whole has improved this offseason.
While the roster seems to be set for now, the Patriots could still look to swing another trade before the beginning of the season to secure their chances of returning to (and winning) the Super Bowl in February.
3 Patriots trades that could make a strong roster even better
Adding a running back to the stable
NE trades WR DeMario Douglas to DEN for RB Jaleel McLaughlin
The wide receiver core is set to look far different in 2026 than it did in 2025. A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs are new faces, but I'd also expect Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III to see larger roles, while Mack Hollins should remain part of the team's primary receiver rotation.
Both Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas could end up on different squads in 2026. For the former, that seems like a given, but Douglas could be deemed surplus should Chism take the next step. With the release of Antonio Gibson earlier in the offseason, the RB3 role is up for grabs, so perhaps moving Douglas for a player in the backfield could be a solid move.
McLaughlin came onto the scene as a very efficient rookie, totaling 410 yards and a touchdown from just 76 carries. Year 2 saw his workload increase to 113 carries, and he finished just shy of 500 yards and a touchdown. Last season, he was limited to just eight regular-season games and a pair of playoff games after being a healthy scratch for nine of Denver's first 10 games. His 45 carries went for 219 yards and a touchdown.
While his career arc took a hit in 2025, the former Youngstown State back has consistently been an efficient one: He averaged 4.8 YPC over his regular-season career. He is also a strong pass catcher, with 59 catches for 263 yards and four touchdowns in 41 games.
He'd compete with Lan Larison, Terrell Jennings, and Jam Miller for the RB3 role, but he might have an edge given his NFL experience and proven pass-catching ability.
Completing the wide receiver overhaul
NE trades WR Kayshon Boutte to KC for 2027 5th Round Pick
As I mentioned in the Douglas trade idea, New England has a surplus of depth receivers, and Boutte seems to be the most obvious trade candidate. While it would hurt to make a deal with the devil, Kansas City is a team with the need for Boutte and the quarterback to help his career flourish.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Boutte involved in his own trade talks, as he'll be looking for a place to maximize his talents. The Chiefs have Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton atop their depth chart. They have a need at receiver, and would likely be willing to offer better draft capital than other teams would for the former LSU wide out.
A fifth-round pick seems a reasonable price tag for Boutte, but it isn't impossible the Patriots look to add a player in the deal. Perhaps a seventh-round selection and former first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah could get the deal done? They were able to resurrect K'Lavon Chaisson's career, so having another bite at the apple wouldn't be a bad idea, either.
Taking a swing at an edge defender
NE trades 2027 4th Round Pick & 2028 7th Round Pick to PIT for ED Alex Highsmith
While Eliot Wolf and Co. may be in more of a selling mood as they look to trim down their roster, they could still look to add to the defense. Despite the additions of Dre'Mont Jones and Gabe Jacas this offseason, the edge could stand to add another workhorse.
Alex Highsmith had 9.5 sacks last season, but looks poised to be pushed out of the starting lineup, and quite possibly the organization, following Nick Herbig's $100 million extension. It's been reported that Highsmith's locker was cleared out, as the Steelers' roster includes T.J. Watt, Herbig, and Jack Sawyer, who nabbed a pair of interceptions during his rookie campaign.
The Steelers would save $14.5 million if they were to trade Highsmith. He has only one year left on his deal, so getting value for him while it's still possible could be wise. Conversely, Aaron Rodgers re-signing could encourage the Steelers to retain expensive veterans for one more year in order to make a playoff push.
If Highsmith is made available, it seems unlikely it would take much to acquire him. A pair of Day 3 selections seems fair given that he could end up being a one-year rental.
Since entering the league six seasons ago, the former Charlotte edge rusher has racked up 45 regular-season sacks (7.5 per season), compared to Herbig's 16 in three seasons (5.3 per season). Highsmith also had more sacks in fewer games than Herbig in 2025. Trading Highsmith may not be a choice for the Steelers.
Add us as a preferred source on Google