3 big trades the Patriots should make at the NFL trade deadline

Whether they buy or sell, the New England Patriots need to get themselves into the NFL trade deadline market, as the team is in need of serious roster improvement. Here's what I think about the NFL trade deadline; just because the Patriots likely aren't winning more than six games this year, they should be open to buying young players if they become available.

They should also become sellers as well with some of their aging, veteran players who are on expiring contracts. I do think a few young players can be had at the deadline for the right price, and the Patriots can build for the future during the 2023 NFL season. With the deadline just one week away, let's propose three trades the Patriots should try to make.

3 big trades the Patriots should make at the NFL trade deadline
1. Package a pick and a WR for Bengals' Tee Higgins

Things are not looking up for the Cincinnati Bengals and keeping WR Tee Higgins for the long-term. He's in the last year of his contract, and since he was a second-round pick back in 2020, there is no fifth-year option. That's only reserved for first-round picks. Higgins seems to be the odd man out, as the Bengals would surely rather pay Ja'Marr Chase, and will have Joe Burrow's contract hitting their books soon.

The Bengals are 3-3 and probably wouldn't trade Higgins during the season unless they got a great haul. Well, what if the Patriots packaged a couple of draft picks and one of their WRs for Higgins? The Bengals might be tempted to pull the trigger and the Patriots would have their WR1 of the future.