What are the Patriots’ top needs approaching NFL trade deadline?

Mike Vrabel gave a standard response on Monday when asked about the Patriots’ focus just a couple of weeks before the NFL trade deadline (Nov. 10 at 4 p.m.). ​

“We’re going to try to do everything we can to help the team,” Vrabel noted. “I don’t know if we will or we won’t.

“I would imagine that we’ll try to do everything that we can to help us, within reason, and makes sense for us. I don’t know how you want to interpret that, but I’m sure we’ll listen and talk, just like everybody else does.”

New England hasn’t had much luck on the injury front so far this season, losing several key cogs for extended stretches through the first seven weeks of a new NFL campaign.

Reinforcements appear to be on the way for the Patriots — especially with Tuesday’s practice report featuring zero players on the active roster who did not participate.

Still, the 4-3 Patriots have several areas of their depth chart that could use a boost — especially if Eliot Wolf and New England’s top brass have the appetite to give up more draft capital for win-now help.

The Patriots did part with a 2028 first-round pick to pry A.J. Brown out of Philadelphia this offseason, but New England still has nine picks in the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft — including its own first and second-round selections, as well as three total picks in the sixth round.

But what areas should the Patriots look to upgrade if New England wants to be aggressive ahead of next month’s trade deadline?

Offensive guard

All things considered, the Patriots seem to have some stability at tackle.

​Will Campbell has put together an impressive sophomore campaign in the NFL, while veteran Morgan Moses has avoided any extended injury time so far in Foxborough.

And even if either Campbell or Moses gets hurt, rookie Caleb Lomu has looked like a difference-maker when pressed into action.

But it’s a different story at guard — with both of New England’s starters at the position in Mike Onwenu and Alijah Vera-Tucker on IR.

Onwenu’s return this year seems unlikely after fracturing an ankle, while Vera-Tucker’s extended injury woes remain a cause for concern.

All things considered, Walter Rouse and Matt Pryor have held the line at guard over the last few weeks, while New England could get a boost once Ben Brown and Greg Van Roten are cleared to play — potentially as soon as this weekend against Miami.

But if New England is looking for a stronger option at left or right guard, giving up some draft capital might be the apt move for additional stability at the position — even if the top target on the trade market in All-Pro Quenton Nelson was dealt to Seattle on Tuesday.

Washington’s Andrew Wylie, Tampa Bay’s Ben Bredeson, or Raiders guard Jackson Powers-Johnson could be potential options, especially if New England isn’t bullish on Vera-Tucker returning to form later this season.​

Edge rusher

For all of the concerns regarding New England’s ability to get after opposing quarterbacks, Zak Kuhr’s blitz-heavy approach has led to some solid returns for the Patriots’ pass-rushing corps so far in 2026.

The Patriots are one of 14 teams to accrue at least 17 sacks through seven games — and rank eighth in the league in pressure rate at 33.8 percent.​

The emergence of Elijah Ponder and Gabe Jacas has been huge for New England’s defense in 2026, although it still feels like this group could use another productive playmaker to put QBs under duress.

That mid-season lift ideally would come in the form of veteran Harold Landry Jr., who posted 8.5 sacks in 2025 with New England.

But Landry has been sidelined since the start of training camp — with no resolution yet after landing on the physically unable to perform list (PUP).

Banking on a rookie like Jacas and a second-year pro in Ponder to continue anchoring your pass-rushing efforts is a risky gamble for New England. Trading for a proven veteran like Khalil Mack could be a prudent move.

Wide receiver

Yes, New England has A.J. Brown back in the fold. And even with a shaky return to game action against both the Jets and Bears, odds are that the All-Pro wideout should regain his form as an elite wideout moving forward.

But New England isn’t quite sure when Romeo Doubs (shoulder) will return from IR, while Mack Hollins is also on IR with a calf injury.

New England needs more proven playmakers in its pass-catching personnel, because Drake Maye can’t keep on relying on his two tight ends in Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon to keep bailing him out each week.

Of the 321 total passing yards Maye recorded against Chicago, only 87 were from catches by wide receivers.

Josh Downs is a viable trade target , especially on a Colts team that is in the midst of a complete fire sale.

Downs — who played alongside Maye at UNC for two seasons — could serve as a dependable safety blanket for Maye, especially out of the slot.

Also, is it crazy to think that the Patriots should give a call to Washington to inquire about Stefon Diggs?

Defensive back

The Patriots might like what they have at corner when it comes to their starting trio of Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and Marcus Jones.

Top backup option Charles Woods has also impressed during his reps so far in 2026.

The issue with this personnel grouping is health, with both Gonzalez and Davis already missing multiple games this season — along with backup options like Karon Prunty and Channing Canada.

Those health concerns and the domino effect of losing players like Davis have often put Patriots corners in daunting matchups.

The 5-foot-8 Jones is a great slot corner, but has routinely been picked on when tasked with lining up on the outside and covering larger wideouts and tight ends.

If Gonzalez and Davis continue to miss time this year, New England might want to move a late draft pick to add depth at corner, rather than keep players like Jones in disadvantageous positions.

The same sentiment could apply to New England’s safety position, with the Patriots in major trouble if either starter, Kevin Byard or Craig Woodson, suffers an injury down the stretch this season.

Defensive line

If the Patriots are looking to swing for the fences, could acquiring Titans star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons be a worthwhile move — even with an expected steep asking price?

The 1-6 Titans aren’t going anywhere this year, and a 29-year-old Simmons doesn’t exactly fit into their long-term rebuilding plans.

Simmons already has plenty of history with Mike Vrabel during the former’s extended tenure coaching in Tennessee — and would upgrade several areas of New England’s defense.

Simmons would generate plenty of pressure up the middle for New England, recording 4.0 sacks in seven games in 2026 and 46.5 career sacks over eight years in Tennessee. His total pressures (24) rank third among interior defensive linemen on PFF this season.

But Simmons is also solid against the run, ranking first among interior defensive linemen with 24 solo tackles and posting a run defense grade of 70.0 — which ranks 16th among 126 eligible D-linemen so far this season.

The cost would be steep.

But bringing in a player like Simmons eases several concerns for New England’s defense — especially after they gave up 116 rushing yards to the Bears last week and struggled to get Caleb Williams and Co. off the field for extended stretches.

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.