The New England Patriots are looking for ways to improve their roster, and part of that might come through addition by subtraction.
With limited draft capital in 2025 and beyond, the Patriots must be creative in building up their assets, particularly after winning a meaningless late-season game that cost them the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft—and the significant trade leverage that would have come with it. Now, sitting at No. 4 in the draft, they are likely forced to stick and pick, hoping that their selection turns into one of the class’ top talents.
That means the Patriots must explore other ways to add draft capital, and one of those ways is trading players who still hold some value but are either redundant on the roster or don’t fit the long-term vision. Let’s take a look at three surprising names that could be on the trade block and what their potential returns might be as New England looks to maximize its rebuild.
S Kyle Dugger
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Trading Kyle Dugger would be a shock to many, but it makes sense when you break down the Patriots’ current defensive structure. Dugger is a versatile, hard-hitting box safety, but the Patriots already have another player who fits that same mold—Jabrill Peppers.
Given that Peppers has been the more impactful player and the better run-stopper, the team might see Dugger as the expendable piece, especially if they believe they can get value in return.
Dugger is set to carry a significant cap hit, and moving on from him could help the Patriots clear space while also acquiring more draft capital. Several teams in need of safety help could see him as an appealing addition, but the Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers stand out as possible trade destinations. Both teams are looking to bolster their secondaries and could use a proven playmaker at safety.
Projected trade return: 2025 fifth-round pick
While Dugger has been a solid player, his contract, age and injury concerns from last season will lower his value on the trade market. The Patriots would likely be selling low, but for a team in full rebuild mode, adding even a mid-round pick while clearing cap space could be a logical move.
In this scenario, Peppers would take over as the full-time strong safety, while Dell Pettus and Marte Mapu would compete for playing time at free safety—though New England would still need to find a long-term answer for that role.
S Jabrill Peppers
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On the flip side, if the Patriots choose to keep Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers could be the surprise trade candidate instead. Unlike Dugger, Peppers comes with an additional layer of uncertainty—his off-field legal issues that surfaced in the offseason.
While the situation has worked its way through the justice system, there’s always a chance that Mike Vrabel wants to avoid any distractions as he establishes his own culture within the organization.
If the Patriots believe that Peppers is the better player but don’t want to deal with the external noise, they could look to move him. The Raiders and Panthers again stand out as logical trade partners, as both teams have been actively searching for safety help and could value Peppers’ leadership and energy on defense.
Projected trade return: 2025 fourth-round pick
Peppers has shown more playmaking ability than Dugger, which is why he holds slightly higher trade value. If the Patriots can secure a fourth-round pick in return, this could be one of Bill Belichick’s better roster moves in hindsight—revitalizing Peppers’ career and flipping him for a decent draft asset.
The only question is whether the Patriots are comfortable fully committing to Dugger, or if they prefer to keep Peppers and move on from Dugger instead.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
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Perhaps the most surprising potential trade candidate, Rhamondre Stevenson, has long been viewed as one of the more talented offensive players on the Patriots’ roster.
However, with Josh McDaniels returning as offensive coordinator, the Patriots may look for a different type of running back—one who offers more consistency, ball security and versatility in the passing game.
At 27 years old and coming off one of his worst seasons, Stevenson’s role as the lead back may not be as secure as some assume. After signing a four-year, $32 million extension, the Patriots have to ask themselves whether he is worth that investment, especially when they need to surround Drake Maye with as many dynamic weapons as possible.
Stevenson had seven fumbles last season, struggled in pass protection and wasn’t a major factor in the passing game, all of which raise concerns about his long-term fit.
Look around the league, and most playoff teams have a true three-down back who can impact both the run and pass game. Whether it’s Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, James Cook or Austin Ekeler, teams are increasingly looking for versatile backs who can keep defenses honest on all three downs. Stevenson hasn’t shown enough as a pass-catcher or pass-blocker to be that guy for Drake Maye.
Enter the Las Vegas Raiders, a team that desperately needs a running back after moving on from Jacobs. Stevenson, who grew up in Las Vegas, would be a logical fit for a team that still values power running but needs a starting-caliber back. The fit with new coach Pete Carroll makes sense considering he’s valued hard-nosed running backs in the past, like Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch.
Projected trade return: 2025 fifth or sixth-round pick
This wouldn’t be a high-value return, but it would clear cap space and allow the Patriots to target a younger, more complete back in the draft or free agency. While Antonio Gibson isn’t the long-term answer, either, the Patriots could use him in that role while searching for their future lead back.
Conclusion
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The Patriots have a ton of holes on their roster and very little draft capital to work with. While they are not expected to make major, franchise-altering trades, they need to find ways to acquire mid-round picks that give them flexibility in both the 2025 and 2026 drafts.
Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers are redundant pieces, and trading one of them could make sense depending on how the team views their long-term outlook. Dugger’s contract and declining production make him a trade candidate, while Peppers’ off-field issues could push the Patriots toward a fresh start. Either way, it’s likely that one of them is on the move.
Rhamondre Stevenson, meanwhile, could be the biggest shock of all. His contract, age and fumbling issues make him a questionable long-term investment, and if the Patriots believe they can find a more complete back to pair with Drake Maye, they could look to move on sooner rather than later.
At the end of the day, these trades wouldn’t be about making a splash—they’d be about clearing cap space, acquiring draft capital and setting up the Patriots for the long-term rebuild ahead. If New England wants to reshape its roster, these surprise moves could be the first steps in that process.
