After seeing how the offense fared against the Seahawks in Week 1, it's fair to say the Patriots may want to make roster changes to improve their chances of getting their season back on track, especially with A.J. Brown sidelined for at least the next four games.
That might be what they do in the next week ahead of their home opener against the Steelers, but for now, they've focused their efforts on improving the defense by adding veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones to the roster after Brown was placed on injured reserve.
The longtime Bills star will now bring his expertise to New England and bulk up their defensive line even more, playing alongside Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, who are already considered one of the best duos in the league after just one season together.
But why stop there?
The Patriots can continue to poach talent from Buffalo by signing Shaq Thompson from their practice squad to add more trusted depth to their linebacker room.
Although there's an argument to be made that they need more pass-rush help, and that's not exactly Thompson's best skill, the linebackers struggled against Seattle this past week, so bringing in another veteran might help provide the boost they need.
The Patriots should have their eyes on another Bills defender ahead of Week 2
The decision to sign Jones on Friday has some analysts and insiders speculating about who the Patriots might sign next, with ESPN's Mike Reiss believing Thompson could be a name to watch.
The longtime Patriots insider noted that Thompson visited the Patriots with Jones on August 18, and because veterans who signed after Week 1 don't have guaranteed base salaries, they may be more interested in signing the veteran now, just like they were with his former teammate.
Signing a veteran like Thompson would add versatility to their linebacker room, along with the reliability that is somewhat lacking on the current roster. Although he hasn't played a full 17-game season since 2022, he was a consistent threat for the defenses he played with and a solid tackler, which is a major weakness for the Patriots.
That's part of their game that they need to fix, as they face a brutal schedule over the next few weeks, and bulking up their defense might make the biggest difference.
At 32 years old, it's clear what kind of player Thompson is at this point, and while most would believe he's on the decline at this stage of his career, his performance in 2025 proved otherwise. He was a big factor for the Bills when called upon, particularly in the playoffs when he recorded an interception and 8 tackles in their wild card showdown against the Jaguars.
During the regular season, he notched 56 total tackles, 6 for a loss, 2 quarterback hits, 2 passes defended, a forced fumble, and a sack in 6 games started and 12 games total.
It's the kind of production the Patriots would benefit from, and what they could get from him would only feel even better knowing they stole him away from the Bills, who started their 2026 season with an impressive bout against the Texans.
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