The New England Patriots haven’t lost a football game since September, but that didn’t stop fans from feeling defeated at this year’s NFL trade deadline.
After shipping out Kyle Dugger, Keion White and Ja’Lynn Polk for some modest draft compensation, the Patriots felt like a team poised to add to a roster that’s extremely thin around the edges.
That didn’t happen. Head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged that conversations took place, both internally and externally, but insinuated that his team wasn’t all that close to making a move before last week’s deadline.
Per multiple reports, the Patriots made calls on Miami Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, a former first-round pick who’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026; he wound up getting traded to Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third-round draft pick, with the bonus of Miami eating all but $1.5 million of his remaining salary.
Jaelan Phillips was one of the hottest names on the trade block. Teams, including the 49ers and Patriots, inquired about a potential deal with the Dolphins.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) November 3, 2025
Ultimately, the Eagles seal a deal for the 26-year-old pass rusher, who becomes a free agent after the season. pic.twitter.com/l4OMNqfgpa
That report felt like a major miss for Vrabel’s Patriots, who have few options on the edge beyond Harold Landry II, K'Lavon Chaisson and Anfernee Jennings.
It stings even more after Monday Night Football. It only took four quarters for Phillips to look like a major steal for the Eagles.
Jaelan Phillips just showed why the New England Patriots should've been more aggressive at this year’s trade deadline
The Patriots wound up being low-key sellers at the NFL trade deadline, and that’s probably viewed as a good thing internally. From owner Robert Kraft on down, New England has preached building through the draft, and the team deserves credit for recouping draft capital while ripping off seven consecutive wins (and counting).
Phillips is a game-changer, though, and the price was right for New England to go get him.
The Eagles deployed the 26-year-old like a franchise pass rusher against the Packers on Monday night, and his impact was felt during a low-scoring slog at Lambeau Field. Per Pro Football Focus, Phillips filled the stat sheet with eight QB pressures, five tackles, four run stuffs and a forced fumble (that he also recovered).
Eagles EDGE Jaelan Phillips recorded 7 pressures on 36 pass rush snaps (pressure rate of 19.4%).
— Anthony DiBona (@DiBonaNFL) November 11, 2025
Phillips recorded his most pressures in a game since Week 18 in 2022.
He also led the Eagles with 6 run tackles.
(📊: @NextGenStats) pic.twitter.com/bsVnevkSwI
Philadelphia had stockpiled multiple third-round draft picks for 2026, so it was a lot easier for Roseman and company to justify a big swing for Phillips prior to the deadline.
That shouldn’t take Vrabel and the Patriots off the hook, though. New England had the draft capital and salary cap space to beat the Eagles’ offer. That Phillips’ contract counts towards the NFL’s compensatory pick formula for 2027 just makes New England’s conservative approach even more questionable; even if he scores a big free agent contract elsewhere in 2026, the Eagles could recoup a mid-round comp pick for renting his elite services.
After Sunday’s marquee road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Patriots are a legitimate contender to earn home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Their coach is pushing all the right buttons, and their young quarterback is receiving MVP chants on a weekly basis — home and away.
The brutal truth? The Patriots have been extremely fortunate on the injury front through 10 weeks, and if that changes down the stretch (especially on defense), this year’s trade deadline will be the ultimate second-guess.