The New England Patriots advanced to 3-2 after their massive win against the Bills, and the next few weeks are against some of the worst teams in football. They'll face off against the Spencer Rattler-led Saints on Sunday, who score 18.4 points per game.
They then play the two worst offenses in football, both led by rookies: the Cam Ward-led Titans and the Dillon Gabriel-led Browns are tied, scoring just 14.6 points per game through the first five weeks.
It's not just a real possibility that the Patriots are 6-2 after Week 8, but it's the expectation. While the rest of the month could see them go undefeated, Mike Vrabel did not rule out the possibility of making a trade to ensure exactly that happens.
Patriots HC Mike Vrabel on @WEEI when asked about potential trades: "the organization will always be in favor of improving the roster."
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) October 6, 2025
The pipe dream that is A.J. Brown seems unlikely despite his averaging less than 40 yards per game: like it or not, the 4-1 Eagles don't seem likely to be sellers at the deadline. Nonetheless, there are a few position groups that could use bolstering, and Vrabel's comments on WEEI could come to fruition if the right player becomes available.
These trades could make sense for the Patriots to make
A move for a wide receiver
While I mentioned Chris Olave in an article earlier this month, Kellen Moore moving on from a top wideout in year one seems somewhat far-fetched, especially considering no one is likely to give up a first-round pick for him.
Nonetheless, if someone like Olave were to become available, the Patriots should jump at the opportunity. Adding a weapon for Drake Maye to pair with Stefon Diggs would ensure their continued success for the remainder of the year and into the future.
If the 1-4 Raiders lose to the Titans on Sunday, might they be willing to throw in the towel on the season and make Jakobi Meyers available? Josh McDaniels loves him, and he'd offer a more consistent complement to Diggs than the more streaky Kayshon Boutte.
Adding to the running back room
Antonio Gibson went down with an ACL tear, so he'll be out for the year and likely some of the preseason next year. Rhamondre Stevenson's fumbling issues haven't stopped, with three in his last three games.
Even if fumbles weren't an issue, he averages 3.7 per carry and has had two games this year with 2.1 yards per carry or fewer. He's also averaged just 7.6 carries a game and averages a fumble every 13 carries.
With Gibson gone, rookie TreVeyon Henderson will have a much larger role, potentially as a kick returner as well as a back. Nonetheless, he averages 3.8 per carry and hasn't been good when used in a high-volume role: his 11 carries against the Steelers notched just 28 yards.
Adding another traditional every down back would be a wise move, but moving major capital seems unnecessary given Henderson's long-term upside. Alvin Kamara could be an option if the Saints continue to struggle, though New Orleans would likely have to eat a large portion of his salary so the Patriots can avoid paying him upwards of $18 million in 2026.
Miles Sanders has averaged 5.8 per carry behind Javonte Williams, while Tyler Allgeier could be an excellent option in a few weeks if Atlanta falls off. Blake Corum's 5.5 per carry is also appealing, but they'd likely need to give up more given his age and the Rams looking like a shoo-in for the playoffs.
A linebacker addition
Robert Spillane has been a force in the run game, but has struggled in coverage as expected. They've tried to put lighter linebackers out there with him to cover that hole, but it hasn't worked all that well. Christian Elliss has been very bad, and Jack Gibbens had a 36.0 PFF grade against Buffalo.
Marte Mapu and Kyle Dugger may be the answer as better complements to Spillane, but either way, the Patriots should look to continue to add to their linebacker group. Christian Harris was a force in his first two years in the NFL, racking up 175 tackles. He played just three games in 2024, and this season has fallen down the Texans' depth chart behind Henry To'oTo'o, Azeez Al-Shaiir, and E.J. Speed.
C.J. Stroud is 25th in the NFL in time to throw, and the Texans recently traded Week 1 starter Cam Robinson to the Browns in favor of rookie Aireontae Ersery. Perhaps they could be interested in swapping a depth linebacker for a depth lineman in the 2024 third-round pick, Caedan Wallace?
Harris isn't likely to help the Patriots in coverage, but he's an excellent run stopper and is still just 24. He's played 34 defensive snaps through five games compared to Wallace's zero, so a change of scene for each could be beneficial.
It will be interesting to see what the next few weeks hold for the Patriots and their activity on the trade block.