With the New England Patriots winning again, it is clear that things are starting to come together. As a result of this success, they will not be selling off assets at the deadline. How big should they swing? The considerable debate in New England is whether to ride it out and see where it takes them or add to the current roster to build for a deep playoff run.
Drake Maye is the future (and now) of the team at quarterback. The team is winning games and is currently leading the AFC East. They have an elite quarterback who isn’t being paid like one, and teams need to know how to maximize every second of this time.
Acquire WR Brian Thomas Jr. From Jacksonville
Proposed Trade: WR Brian Thomas Jr. for a 2026 first-round pick and WR DeMario Douglas
Assuming that the fifth-year option for Thomas would be picked up the second he entered the building, the Patriots would be getting one of the most promising receiver prospects in the entire league, who, as a rookie, earned Pro Bowl honors, by amassing 1,282 yards and ten touchdowns last season on 87 catches. Bringing in the Jacksonville Jaguars star to go alongside Stefon Diggs would make this offense’s upside as high as any team in the league and significantly accelerate their timeline.
Acquire Tony Pollard From Tennessee
Proposed Trade: HB Tony Pollard and a 2027 seventh-round pick for a 2026 fourth-round pick (via Kansas City)
Having the most cap space in the NFL will bode well for the Patriots as they look for some veteran help at running back. Tony Pollard no longer fits the Tennessee Titans’ timeline, who are fully committed to a rebuild. They are so committed, in fact, that they now have their promising backup playing more than him.
The combination of these factors and the Patriots’ lack of a guy who has genuinely been there and done that as a top back, like Pollard, makes this an excellent fit for New England. In each of the last three seasons, Pollard has rushed for over 1,000 yards and has averaged 4.4 yards per carry.
Acquire DeMario Davis From New Orleans
Proposed Trade: LB DeMario Davis for a 2026 fifth-round pick
This young Patriots defense has played exceptionally well, and it seems sustainable, but it feels like it is missing that veteran leader. DeMario Davis plays the game the right way while remaining among the top performers in the game right now, shown by his 82.5 grade in our PFSN LBi Rankings, which makes him the 15th-best linebacker in the whole league and ahead of anybody on the current Patriots roster.
This is a no-brainer to usher in a new generation of Patriots linebackers for years to come and bring this current team’s performance to another level. Now is the time to take the chance, and the acquisition cost shouldn’t be too high, given the New Orleans Saints’ clear status as sellers at this deadline.
No for a Thomas trade for a #1 pick plus Douglas. We need a DE not a WR that costs us a wr.
Hard NO on the first proposed trade. I’ll gamble with the first round pick instead of throwing it at this suggestion.