The New England Patriots sit at 6-2 behind second-year quarterback Drake Maye and first-year head coach Mike Vrabel. They have taken the lead of their division, and with the AFC still wide open, the Patriots have a real opportunity to capitalize on their momentum.

Their positions of need are wide receiver, running back, and edge rusher. Here are some potential trades the Patriots could make to address those needs before the deadline.

Move 1: Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

Trade Details:
> Patriots receive: Chris Olave
> Saints receive: 2026 third-round pick

The Patriots’ receiver room has been better than expected, but the group still lacks a truly dominant WR1 for Maye to rely on, no matter the situation. Stefon Diggs has been the top guy out of the slot, but has disappeared in some games. While Kayshon Boutte has surged in recent weeks as Maye’s go-to guy outside, the Patriots still could use an outside deep threat that could be a truly game-changing WR1.

Chris Olave would give New England a receiver who can separate naturally and lighten that burden. Olave has every physical and technical trait needed to be a dominant X receiver, but the Saints’  offense has limited the full extent of what he can be. With Maye pushing the ball downfield and thriving in rhythm, Olave is the exact type of receiver who could explode in a more functional system.

Reports indicate that the Saints are open to moving both Olave and Rashid Shaheed, and with New England possessing plenty of mid-round capital, this is a rare opportunity to acquire a premium young receiver who fits Maye’s timeline perfectly.

Move 2: D.J. Moore, WR, Chicago Bears

Trade Details:
> Patriots receive: D.J. Moore and 2026 5th round pick
> Bears receive: 2026 second-round pick

Continuing to look at potential top receivers for Maye, Moore would give the Patriots a physically imposing receiver who can dominate after the catch and win in contested situations. New England’s offense has relied heavily on timing and precision, and it’s been efficient when everything goes right. However, when Maye is under pressure and just needs to get the ball out, he lacks a threat that he can rely on to make a play. Moore is among the best in the league at running open when a QB needs him and making a big-time play after the catch.

Chicago is transitioning toward Rome Odunze becoming the focal point of the passing game, and with rookies Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland looking to get more involved, Moore may be the odd man out in Chicago. If the Bears are willing to move him, he would walk into Foxborough immediately as the best receiver on the roster and give Maye the steady, every-down presence that transforms an offense’s baseline.

The Patriots would be adding a true tone-setting wideout who can win in ways no one currently on the roster can replicate, while also taking attention off of Diggs and Boutte, allowing them to get open easier. Simply put, this move would significantly raise both the Patriots’ weekly floor and championship ceiling long-term.

Move 3: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers

Trade Details:
> Patriots receive: Chuba Hubbard and 2026 seventh-round pick
> Panthers receive: 2026 fourth-round pick

New England needs more from their backfield. Rhamondre Stevenson has struggled throughout the season, and while TreVeyon Henderson has flashed, he has not yet earned the trust to be a consistent focal point, lacking proper snaps for a lead back. The Patriots have had to lean on Maye’s arm more heavily than ideal, and adding a runner capable of producing efficient yardage would give the offense better balance.

Hubbard is having a quieter start to the season due to minor injuries and inconsistent usage. However, just last season, he had 1,195 rushing yards and ten touchdowns on 4.8 yards per carry through 15 games. Carolina’s emergence of Rico Dowdle has shifted their backfield structure, so the 26-year-old RB may be deemed expendable at this point. Hubbard just signed a big deal last season, which may put a damper on trade hopes, but it would make Hubbard even more appealing as a target since there is long-term security through the 2028 season.

For the Patriots, Hubbard provides a legitimate starter who can handle volume and bring more explosiveness than their backfield has shown. The price is reasonable, the upside is substantial, and it gives New England one less variable to worry about in the second half of the season.

Move 4: Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals

Trade Details:
> Patriots receive: Trey Hendrickson
> Bengals receive: 2026 first-round pick or an equivalent package

The Patriots’ pass rush has been solid, but they lack a player who can take over a game and tilt protections entirely on his own. Trey Hendrickson provides that level of disruption. He is one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers and consistently produces at a top-tier rate regardless of the performance of the defense around him.

Cincinnati’s defense has been among the league’s worst, and the organization did not show urgency to lock Hendrickson into a long-term deal. That combination places him firmly in trade discussions. For New England, this would be the most aggressive move possible and one that could change the makeup of the defense overnight. A trio of Hendrickson, Harold Landry III, and K’Lavon Chaisson would instantly become one of the most dangerous edge rotations in football.

The cost is significant, but Hendrickson is the type of acquisition teams make when they believe they have a real shot at a deep playoff run. Hendrickson would elevate the Patriots defense into one of the best in the league as a unit capable of dictating games.

Move 5: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, New York Giants

Trade Details:
> Patriots receive: Kayvon Thibodeaux
> Giants receive: 2026 third-round pick

Kayvon represents a completely different type of EDGE investment compared to Hendrickson. Where Hendrickson is a finished product who brings immediate dominance, Kayvon is a long-term investment. He flashed star potential in 2023 with 11.5 sacks, but has seen his production decline sharply since then. He recorded just 5.5 sacks in 2024 and has only 2.5 sacks through eight games this season.

The Giants should be sellers as they sit at 2-6 at the bottom of the division and have been struck by season-ending injuries to Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo. With Abdul Carter drafted third overall to pair with Brian Burns, Thibodeaux has become increasingly expendable.

A trade would give the Giants extra capital to address other needs while freeing up Carter and Burns to anchor the defense moving forward.

For New England, Kayvon is a developmental bet placed in the hands of a staff that has already elevated the performance of K’Lavon Chaisson. A new environment could help the 24-year-old pass rusher rediscover the trajectory he showed earlier in his career.

If the Patriots make the splash move, they’d be getting a young defender with all the upside and athletic talent you could ask for. This would be a strategic move that would bolster the pass rush immediately and could potentially result in a franchise cornerstone defensively.