Mike Vrabel didn’t know last week whether the Patriots would be buyers at next week’s NFL trade deadline, but he did seem to offer a clue.
“I’m sure we’ll listen and talk just like everybody else does,” he said. “I would imagine that we’ll try to do everything that we can to help us within reason and make sense for us.”
Within reason. Make sense for us. That’s usually code for, “Don’t expect a big deal.”
It’s not just Vrabel’s words that should dampen enthusiasm about the Patriots (5-3) making a significant trade for Maxx Crosby or Jonathan Taylor or Brian Thomas. The organization’s actions speak of a team not looking to swing for the fences before the 4 p.m. deadline on Nov. 10.
The proof is in the Patriots’ salary-cap situation. As of Tuesday, they had $5.35 million in cap space. Last week, it was less than $2 million, but they restructured Hunter Henry’s contract to free up a little more space. That’s enough to make a few depth moves, but not to add a high-paid superstar like the Bears did with Jeffery Simmons, or the Seahawks with Quenton Nelson.
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Now, anyone who understands the NFL salary cap knows that the Patriots easily can create more space. All you have to do is convert a player’s base salary into a signing bonus, and voilá, instant cap space. The Patriots did that with Henry, and have several more candidates — Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Christian Barmore, Robert Spillane, Morgan Moses, and Christian Elliss. The Patriots easily could create $25 million or more of cap space without spending an extra dime.
But the Patriots, noticeably, haven’t touched any of those other contracts. They have a week left to make trades, yet aren’t showing any urgency to create more cap space.
Which leads me to believe the Patriots are just looking for depth at the deadline, not an all-in type of move.
“I mean, we’ll see. If there’s things that we feel like can help us, we’ll try to do,” Vrabel said Monday on WEEI.
The Patriots do have some needs. They could probably use another running back, another cornerback, and depth in the trenches — a guard to account for all the injuries, and perhaps another edge rusher, especially if Harold Landry never comes off the physically unable to perform list. The trench players are the easiest to plug-and-play.
But unless they create more cap space in the next week, the Patriots don’t seem like they want to splurge with cash or high draft picks, especially with their 2028 first-round pick already gone in the A.J. Brown trade. Next year’s draft will be an important one.
Vrabel using the phrases “within reason” and “make sense” is code that the Patriots have already made their big expenditures for 2026. They’re 16th in the NFL in spending at $334 million for 2026, with large cash outlays on Christian Gonzalez ($35.8 million), Brown ($28.75 million), Williams ($22.7 million), Romeo Doubs ($19.9 million), and six other players in double figures.
Another reason not to swing for a big trade — perhaps there is less urgency to go all-in on the 2026 season from the Patriots, who are fresh off last year’s surprise Super Bowl run. The Bears, who gave up their next two first-round picks for Simmons, haven’t been to a Super Bowl in 20 years or won in 41.
The Patriots can also make the case that improvements will come from within. They should get several impact starters back in the coming weeks.
Receivers Mack Hollins and Doubs should return from injured reserve, and Brown will hopefully be able to play through his knee condition. Offensive tackle Marcus Bryant has already been activated after an IR stint. Left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker should return, as well. Backup guard Greg Van Roten and fullback Reggie Gilliam are other options, and Landry is still a possibility, though his time is running out. The Patriots can use six more IR-return slots, and they may need to save one for the end of the season.
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The Patriots have won four of five games despite all these injuries. They just beat Miami without Drake Maye’s top three wide receivers, his No. 1 tight end, and No. 2 running back. The Patriots rank third in points per game since Week 4 (29.6), and Brown has barely done anything all season. The Patriots have injury issues, but no glaring weaknesses.
A backup cornerback or guard would make sense. Chargers pass rusher Khalil Mack ($4 million cash the rest of the season) would be great. But if the Patriots can get everyone back healthy, where is the space for a receiver such as Thomas or Josh Downs? He would be the seventh player in the room. Why give up draft picks for a running back when Rhamondre Stevenson is playing great and it’s the deepest position in street free agency?
More injuries will surely take place throughout the final nine games, and not all of the injured players will return to previous form. But the Patriots still have time to get healthy and get their roster in order before the stretch run without having to make a big trade.
It would create excitement and get the fans buzzing. But unless they create more salary-cap space before Tuesday’s deadline, the Patriots are telling us they believe in the team they built this offseason, and they’re just looking for depth.