The New England Patriots have already made some waves in the trade market this season, trading 2024 second-round pick Ja'Lynn Polk to the Saints for a swap of late-round picks.
That move saw them add a 2027 draft pick, but they're yet to acquire any players. With the team sitting at 4-2 and set to play two of the worst teams in football over the next two weeks, the Patriots should be in a position to add playmakers to their squad ahead of the NFL's Nov. 4 trade deadline.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently suggested that the Patriots could add to their running back room, something they need to do desperately after losing Antonio Gibson for the remainder of 2025 with an ACL tear. Barnwell specifically urged New England to call the Houston Texans on Dameon Pierce, who has just 10 carries for 26 yards this season.
On the surface, that might not seem like a player worth trading for, but Pierce has had some real NFL success. He ran for 939 yards on 4.3 yards per carry during his rookie year, but an ineffective sophomore season saw him cut out of the offense going into Year 3.
Pierce rushed the ball only 40 times in 2024, but ran for a whopping 7.3 yards per touch, including eight carries for 76 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots in Week 6. The 25-year-old could definitely be a depth option for the Patriots, but it's the player Barnwell has leaving Foxboro that should pique fans' interest most.
ESPN's proposed Kyle Dugger for Dameon Pierce swap would help the Patriots in more ways than one
It wouldn't take much to land Pierce given his lack of a role in the Texans' offense. Nick Chubb and Woody Marks have the backfield on lock, and Joe Mixon is expected to return from injury at some point this season.
If the team could add running back help, while also offloading a bad contract, that would be a major win. Barnwell suggests the Patriots send demoted safety Kyle Dugger to Houston with cash considerations for Pierce.
"Dugger's not that far removed from being a valuable player for Bill Belichick in New England," Barnwell wrote, "and while the 29-year-old's previously elite traits might have slipped after an ankle injury, there are just too many teams in need of help at safety. The Patriots would need to eat most of the $6.5 million remaining on Dugger's contract, but I'm not sure they really trust him to be on the field in games that matter unless it's absolutely necessary."
As mentioned, the Texans could give up Pierce without a second thought, while adding Dugger could help push the 2-3 squad back into playoff contention. Second-year safety Calen Bullock has a 38.6 overall PFF grade, ranking him 135 out of 141 safeties. M.J. Stewart, 30, mans the other starting spot, and PFF slots him 114th at the position. Jimmie Ward's eventual return will no doubt help, but they should look for a second quality starter.
By adding Dugger, perhaps Bullock, a third-round pick in 2024, could move into a lesser role and continue his development behind the scenes for the Texans.
While Pierce had four fumbles during his rookie year (220 carries), he went the next three seasons (195 carries) with just one. If the Patriots can get the best out of the Florida alum as both a running back and kick returner, he could be the perfect replacement for Antonio Gibson as a rotational back, while they dispose of Dugger's bloated contract.