FOXBOROUGH - NFL teams have already started making moves ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m trade deadline.
The Patriots, who extended their win streak to six games with Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons, have added depth - mostly via the practice squad - to their running back and defensive back positions.
They’re currently sitting atop the AFC East with a 7-2 mark, and need help to maintain their standing. They need reinforcements.
Here’s 5 questions the Patriots are likely pondering with the deadline closing in:
Should offensive line help be a top priority?
Given Drake Maye has been sacked 12 times the past two games, and has now been sacked 34 times in the nine games played, there’s certainly reason for pause. Only Tennessee has given up more (38) sacks to this point.
That’s an alarming number, one that the Patriots need to address. Some of it is on Maye, who has walked into pressure on occasion. By the same token, he’s avoided sacks given his ability to move.
Either way, he’s getting hit, and taken down much too often.
One solution would be for Maye to make his reads and get rid of the ball quicker, as opposed to constantly looking for the deep throw.
Outside of that, the Patriots have endured the growing pains of having two rookies on the left side.
On Sunday, though, most of the pressure came up the middle. Michael Onwenu, in particular, had some problems. But, they’ve also had issues on the edges.
Depth-wise, the situation is more dire at tackle. If either Will Campbell or Morgan Moses goes down, there’s a considerable drop-off.
And that’s not to say Campbell and Moses have been great.
The problem is that this is a tough area to improve via trade. Every NFL team craves tackle help. Every team is trying to survive offensive line issues. So it’s more likely the Patriots will wait and get help in next year’s draft.
Can they improve the pass rush?
The Patriots have reportedly been targeting edge defenders in the trade market, and with good reason.
They’re below the middle of the pack in pressure rate, and in the bottom 10 in quarterback knockdowns. As for sacks, after charging out with 8 sacks in the first two games, they now have 19 in 9 games.
Michael Penix was sacked just once on Sunday. The week before, it was the same with Cleveland’s Dillon Gabriel. Both quarterbacks were barely touched.
Keion White was supposed to be the quality depth behind K’Lavon Chaisson and Harold Landry, but he was traded due to his ineffectiveness in Vrabel’s scheme.
Chaisson and Landry have both had to deal with injuries, and play through them. Anfernee Jennings, who the team reportedly wants to trade, and undrafted free agent Elijah Ponder are the next men up.
So it’s pretty clear the Patriots are one serious injury away from bigger trouble on the edge.
Arden Key, who played for Vrabel in Tennessee, is someone they’re likely to consider. He had 6.5 sacks last season.
If they do make a move, this is the most likely spot.
Did Sunday’s game convince you they’re set at running back?
No, not really.
With Rhamondre Stevenson out with a toe injury, the Patriots got by with the combination of rookie TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings.
But, it was tough to be convinced they’re set when Henderson (14 carries, 55 yards, 3.9 yards per carry) and Jennings (11 carries 35 yards, 3.2 yards per carry) couldn’t muster 4 yards per carry.
Losing Antonio Gibson changed the whole dynamic. If Stevenson was the No. 1, Gibson was 1A.
If Stevenson went down, there wasn’t much of a drop-off - if at all - with Gibson.
Henderson has started to make strides, but they need more.
Getting an upgrade remains important.
D’Ernest Johnson, who was signed to the practice squad, is also part of the equation, but he really doesn’t move the needle.
Cleveland’s Jerome Ford, who Vrabel watched up close and personal last season as a coaching consultant, seems like a logical move.
How much of a loss is Kayshon Boutte
It’s pretty signifcant. Boutte suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s game, and is likely to miss some time.
Boutte and Drake Maye have established a great chemistry, especially on the deep ball. They have an unspoken trust and comfort level.
That’s not easily replaced.
The Patriots, however, seem confident they can get by giving rookie Kyle Williams more snaps. Or, have Mack Hollins do more work on the outside.
It’ll be good to see Williams playing more regularly. Thus far, he and Maye have not been on the same page. They’ve been on two different planets.
Williams, however, has speed, and talent. If the Patriots are able to extract that in the next week or more, no need to add on due to Boutte’s absence.
Do they have enough at safety?
Yes, and no. They’re okay with Jaylinn Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson.
And yet, having dealt Kyle Dugger and released Jabrill Peppers, they’re really thin in terms of quality depth.
Like several other positions, they’re one injury away from trouble.
They still have Dell Pettus, Brenden Schooler and John Saunders on the roster. Richie Grant, who played in Atlanta from 2021-2024, is on the practice squad.
So there’s depth. But it’s debatable if the depth will be able to hold the fort if Hawkins or Woodson miss significant time.
It wouldn’t hurt to kick the tires on Minkah Fitzpatrick with the Dolphins reportedly open to trading the star safety. He turns 29 in two weeks, and is under contract through the 2026 season.
If not Fitzpatrick, a veteran who can capably handle the position.
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