The New England Patriots have been one of the quieter teams in the lead-up to the 2026 trade deadline.
For some fans, that might seem like a head-scratcher given the ridiculous number of injuries the team has sustained through nine games. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is in the third year of his rookie deal, and with his massive contract extension looming in the not-so-distant future, the opportunity to load up on talent won't be any cheaper than it is right now.
The Chicago Bears are going all in with Caleb Williams. The Jacksonville Jaguars have gone all in with Trevor Lawrence. The Los Angeles Rams even went all in with a 38-year-old Matthew Stafford.
Shouldn't the Patriots do the same for Maye?
The other side of that coin is the fact that the Patriots
did go all in by trading for star wide receiver A.J. Brown and signing Romeo Doubs in the offseason. They brought in talented veteran guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, elite blocking tight end Julian Hill and the best fullback in the NFL, Reggie Gilliam.
All of those guys are currently out with injuries, along with a bunch of other key players. Luck has simply not been on the Patriots' side this year.
Will they try to force it, or stand pat at the trade deadline? We'll track the latest news and rumors on Patriots Wire as they come in.
Patriots open roster spot
The Patriots opened one roster spot on Monday, the day before the trade deadline, by releasing rookie tight end Tanner Arkin. Perhaps the team is keeping the spot open with a move in mind before the deadline, or they might simply be opening it up to bring an injured player back on the roster.
I'm not trying to rain on any early trade move parades out there, but temper those expectations.
When is the trade deadline?
The 2026 NFL trade deadline is slated for Tuesday, November 10, at 4:00 p.m. ET. All moves will have to be made and finalized by that deadline.
Perfect fits for Patriots
This will likely be a quiet trade deadline for the Patriots, but a couple of moves that could make an immediate impact would be trading for Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack or Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry.
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor might also be on the move, but the price point might be too rich for the Patriots. However, Mack and Henry are more feasible options if they end up on the block. Mack would add immediate juice to the pass-rushing unit, and Henry would be a monster upgrade at running back.
Biggest positions of need for Patriots
- Edge rusher: The Patriots drafted rookie Gabe Jacas in the second round, but outside of that move, they haven't done anything to address their lack of a No. 1 edge rusher. Harold Landry III didn't participate in training camp, and there is still no timetable for his return.
- Running back: Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to miss time with the knee injury he suffered in last week's loss to the Packers. TreVeyon Henderson is also sidelined due to a mysterious illness. The Patriots are down to Corey Kiner and Lan Larison as their top running backs.
- Cornerback: Carlton Davis III has not been able to stay healthy consistently enough, and the team could use another long, rangy veteran corner playing opposite Christian Gonzalez.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots trade deadline tracker: Latest rumors, news and buzz
