There is little doubt that New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel likes the makeup of his team. The defending AFC champions have hit their stride after a slow start, and they hope to run down the Buffalo Bills and regain the lead in the AFC East before the end of the season.
The Patriots made a couple of big moves in the offseason by adding wide receivers A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles and Romeo Doubs from the Green Bay Packers. Brown has had to contend with multiple nagging injuries this season and he has played in just three games this season. His lack of production has been a major disappointment this season.
Doubs got off to a brutal start in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks and he has been rather ordinary since then with 14 receptions for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Those two should have been the team's top receivers this season. Doesn't that mean the Patriots are going to add receivers before the Nov. 10 trade deadline?
Barmore a trade possibility for New England
Perhaps not. It seems more likely the Patriots will be sellers, and the name mentioned most frequently is defensive end Christian Barmore. He has played in seven games this season, but his production in defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr's defense has been minimal. He has 7 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble. The Patriots clearly expected more from him this season.
The Patriots are reportedly shopping Barmore and the team is looking for a fourth-round pick for him, according to the Boston Globe.
However, Vrabel tried to diminish the idea that moving Barmore — or any other Patriots player — is a trade deadline priority.
“I have not shared that information with anybody,” Vrabel said. “This time of year, I think that all these things kind of get drummed up. So, we’re focused on trying to prepare for Green Bay and make the corrections from the game. This is business as normal here, so I don’t know where a lot of these things come from. Certainly not from any conversations with me.”
Patriots could trade a defensive back
In addition to Barmore, the Patriots may also be shopping cornerback Carlton Davis. Davis is in his ninth year in the NFL and his second with the Patriots. He has been limited to four games this season and he is listed on this week's injury report as questionable with a neck injury.
His numbers don't compare with previous years. He has started double-digit games every season in his career, including a career-best 17 games last year when he had 10 passes defensed. Davis has just four starts this season.
He has just 1 pass defensed this year and the former second-round draft choice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not be the best fit in New England's secondary.
Backup cornerback Charles Woods has contributed more at this point in the season. He has 32 tackles, 4 passes defensed and 1 tackle for loss and has been quite competent in the Patriots defense.
Injuries have led to multiple Patriots needs
The New England Patriots did not make any major moves before last year's trade deadline, and multiple observers believe that's the same philosophy they will follow again this year. However, injuries have left them with needs at the offensive guard slot, edge rusher and even the cornerback position.
While Vrabel is not going to talk about the specifics to the media, he is certainly having conversation with Eliot Wolf, the team's vice president of player personnel.
The Patriots have suffered key injuries at guard, and they could make a deal with the New Orleans Saints for Cesar Ruiz. The 27-year-old Ruiz is in his seventh season and is in the prime of his career. The 6-4, 317-pound Ruiz is a solid pass blocker and that could mean quite a bit for QB Drake Maye.
Another area that is likely to get the Patriots' attention is that Ruiz is durable. He has played through multiple injuries and that should earn him quite a bit of favor with Vrabel and Wolf.
Pats could go after former standout
If the Patriots are going to make a move at the edge rusher slot, they need to call the Washington Commanders to bring back K'Lavon Chaisson. He signed with the Commanders in the offseason after spending the 2026 season with the Patriots.
Chaisson has started 7 games for Washington this season and has 3.5 sacks, 19 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. He was a key part of the Patriots' Super Bowl run last year with 31 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
The former first-round draft choice of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020 from LSU is solid in all areas, and he can be a consistent contributor if the Pats make a move to bring him back.