The New England Patriots aren't even halfway through their 2026 regular season slate, and they've already been obliterated by injuries.
They have had enough players go on injured reserve to fill Santa's Christmas list, long before the eggnog sipping and carol singing begins. The Patriots are viewed as a playoff contender, and given that they are in a win-now mode, it would behoove them to explore the possibility of upgrading in some areas to give the team a fighting chance in January.
With that said, it takes two willing teams to make a trade work, and the Patriots also have to be careful not to get away from their long-term goals. They should be looking to get younger and cheaper to build a long-sustaining contender for years to come.
You can't
do that if you're constantly throwing away draft picks for short-term success. Keep in mind they've already traded their 2028 first-round pick for star wideout A.J. Brown, who's been banged up with multiple injuries.
Stay tuned because we'll be tracking all of the latest news and rumors leading up to the trade deadline.
DT Christian Barmore on trade block
10:40 AM ET, October 30 2026, Jordy McElroyAccording to NFL insider Albert Breer, Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore is reportedly on the trade block. His snaps have been declining, and the writing could be on the wall for the team to make a big move by dealing their 2021 second-round pick.
Breer wrote:
"The Patriots are deep in the AFC race, but veteran DT Christian Barmore could be had, having played only 41.9% of the team’s defensive snaps, falling behind Milton Williams and Cory Durden in the team’s rotation."
Help on defensive front desperately needed
10:36 AM ET, October 30 2026, Jordy McElroyThe Patriots need serious help on the defensive front, whether it's at edge rusher or defensive tackle. They need to fortify their run defense and spark their pass-rushing capabilities.
Letting Khyiris Tonga walk out the door was one of the biggest mistakes of the offseason for the team, and they've been scrambling to fix it ever since. On the edge, they have mostly relied on Dre'Mont Jones, Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, with Harold Landry III still stuck in injury purgatory.
The addition of a proven playmaker like former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack would be the perfect fit for the Patriots on defense. As far as the defensive tackle position is concerned, it would be a massive upgrade if the team could go out and get a guy like Buccaneers' run-stuffer Vita Vea.
Could the Patriots add a running back?
10:28 AM ET, October 30 2026, Jordy McElroyOne of the underrated positions the Patriots could look to address on the trade market is running back. TreVeyon Henderson has experienced a steep falloff from his impressive rookie season. He has gone from the future No. 1 rusher in the Patriots' offensive backfield to ceding snaps to Corey Kiner.
That isn't good for the 2025 second-round pick.
Perhaps injuries are to blame for Henderson's slow start. He got banged up in training camp before the start of the season, and he also injured his ankle against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5. If the Patriots are ready to move on, they could look to move Henderson, along with a draft pick, for a more proven veteran option.
The pie-in-the-sky trade would be for the Indianapolis Colts' star running back, Jonathan Taylor. A more realistic option would be a player like Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenneth Gainwell.
When is the trade deadline?
10:15 AM ET, October 30 2026, Jordy McElroyThe 2026 NFL trade deadline is slated for Tuesday, November 10, at 4:00 p.m. ET. Teams will no longer be able to trade beyond that point.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: NFL trade deadline: Tracking Patriots news and rumors
