The Nov. 10 4 p.m. ET NFL trade deadline is just hours away. Despite being just days removed from an ugly loss, the 5-4 New England Patriots still view themselves as contenders which could impact how they manage the roster.
“I want to see us do anything that we can with the roster that we have or potentially guys that aren’t here, to continue to improve,” head coach Mike Vrabel said Monday. “That’s the focus here after nine weeks. We played some really good games, have been competitive, and then other days where it just wasn’t good enough as a whole.”
After trading a 2028 first-round pick this past offseason, the Patriots are not expected to make any significant investments. But the team does have additional Day 3 draft capital this year to add depth across the roster.
As for potential targets, here are six targets who could be on the radar.
The Patriots’ run defense has trended in a positive direction in recent weeks, but adding Lopez could help the unit take another step forward. The 29-year-old has shown flashes of being a dominant run defender along the interior and would give New England another reliable option in the defensive line rotation. He is also under contract through the 2027 season for a reasonable salary.
Another option along the interior defensive line, Tomlinson has lost some of the pass-rushing juice he showed earlier in his career but remains a disruptive rotational piece. The 32-year-old is in the final year of his contract with the winless Chargers, with roughly $1.5 million remaining in cash owed to him. That makes him a potentially affordable option compared to Colts nose tackle Grover Stewart, who is owed approximately $6 million in cash. Tomlinson also spent the 2024 season with Mike Vrabel in Cleveland.
The Patriots have gotten strong overall production from Elijah Ponder, Dre’Mont Jones and Gabe Jacas along the edge. However, adding another pass rusher could help preserve that production down the stretch and bring some more juice to the unit as a whole. The former first-round pick, who has the size and athleticism New England has gravitated to on the edge, has served in a rotational role for the Cardinals this season and is in the final year of his contract, potentially making him an attainable deadline target.
The 2-7 Eagles continued to move pieces ahead of the trade deadline Monday, sending defensive tackle Jordan Davis to Jacksonville in exchange for a first- and second-round pick. Could former first-round pick Nolan Smith be next? Despite the Eagles’ struggles, the 25-year-old has been productive, leading the team with 21 pressures this season while remaining a physical run defender. Philadelphia also exercised Smith’s fifth-year option this past offseason, keeping him under contract through 2027 with under $14 million in cash owed his way. His age, production and contractual control could make him an appealing addition, although it may take a more significant investment than other names on this list.
New England’s secondary was already without cornerback Charles Woods (hamstring) Sunday before fellow cornerback Carlton Davis (knee) left the game early. That left Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones with limited depth behind them, as rookies Karon Prunty and Channing Canada were the next options at cornerback. Former Patriot Jonathan Jones has settled into a rotational role with the Eagles, but still offers experience and man-coverage ability that could be valuable for a New England secondary dealing with injuries.
As noted above, the Patriots are without their 2028 first-round pick after sending it to Philadelphia in the offseason trade for A.J. Brown. While New England is focused on competing this season, there is still a bigger-picture argument for adding draft capital and getting younger across the roster. That probably is more of an offseason focus, but the team could explore the trade market to potentially move a veteran on the current roster if the right offer comes along.
