Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs the ball during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 28, 2025.

The New England Patriots appear to be on their way to becoming a playoff team in Mike Vrabel's first season in charge of the franchise.

The Patriots are off to a strong, 4-2 start to the season which includes a "Sunday Night Football" win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. New England is perched atop the AFC East thanks to that victory and figures to give Buffalo a run for its money as the Patriots have one of the NFL's easiest schedules for 2025.

That could lead the Patriots to become buyers at the 2025 NFL trade deadline. The only question is about which positions they might look to upgrade.

Coming into the season, many presumed the Patriots would be looking for a receiver to pair with Stefon Diggs. However, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero opined in an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show" that may no longer be the team's most pressing need with Kayshon Boutte emerging as a quality deep threat.

"If something drops into your lap, you don't say no," Pelissero said, of acquiring a receiver. "But they are paying Diggs $20-plus million right now. If you're talking about taking on a bunch of salary for another wide receiver – again, never say never. Anything's possible. But I would view running back, I would view edge as more pressing needs."

With that in mind, here's a look at some players the Patriots could pursue on the trade market, both at the positions Pelissero mentioned and elsewhere.

Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Mike Vrabel coached Henry during his most productive seasons with the Titans, including both of his 2,000-yard campaigns. Could a reunion be on tap for the two in New England?

The Ravens may be content to hang onto Henry after inking the big-bodied bruiser to a two-year, $30 million extension during the offseason. However, they could also see it as an opportunity to offload the highly-paid 31-year-old as they navigate a trying season.

Despite Baltimore's injury woes, Henry has still racked up 439 yards and four touchdowns on 88 carries, good for a yards-per-carry average of 5. He would provide Drake Maye support he simply hasn't yet experienced alongside Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.

Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers

If Henry is a pie-in-the-sky option for the Patriots, Dowdle is among the most realistic. The 27-year-old signed just a one-year deal with the Panthers during the offseason, and Carolina may be hard-pressed to keep him long-term with Chuba Hubbard playing in just the first season of a four-year, $33.2 million extension.

Dowdle (5-11, 215 pounds) runs with good contact balance and has the necessary leg power to succeed as a tough runner. He is capable of handling a full workload, as evidenced by his 473 scrimmage yards on 60 touches in two games with Hubbard (calf) sidelined.

Dowdle also has strong ball security, as he has fumbled just four times on 480 career touches. That would make him a plug-and-play upgrade over Stevenson, who has fumbled 10 times over 304 touches during the last two seasons alone.

Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans

The Titans figure to embrace a youth movement the rest of 2025 after firing coach Brian Callahan following the team's 1-5 start. That could make a 28-year-old running back like Pollard expendable, as he likely doesn't fit the team's window for contention.

Pollard has posted three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons and has logged at least 39 receptions in four straight campaigns. He's averaging just 3.9 yards per carry this season, but a move to a more functional New England offense could allow him to improve his efficiency.

The Patriots are armed with a league-high $54.6 million in cap space, too, so they can absorb the final season-plus remaining on Pollard's three-year, $21.7 million contract with ease.

Trey Hendrickson, edge, Cincinnati Bengals

The Patriots have four defenders who have generated at least 17 pressures this season: K'Lavon Chaisson (21), Christian Barmore (20), Milton Williams (18) and Harold Landry (17). While that defensive line unit has been strong, the team lacks quality depth there, as no other player on the roster has more than six pressures.

Hendrickson would instantly change that. The 30-year-old has 39 sacks over his last 40 regular-season games and has generated 20 pressures despite receiving next to no help from his Bengals teammates.

The Patriots also have the cap space needed to extend Hendrickson beyond this season, so this seems like a great match both short- and long-term.

Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, New York Giants

The Giants may not necessarily be looking to move Thibodeaux, but they could consider doing it for the right price. After all, they already have Brian Burns under contract long-term while Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, figures to eventually emerge as a starter on the edge.

Thibodeaux has generated 20 pressures and 2.5 sacks through six weeks and won't turn 25 until December. Consider him a younger, less-proven version of Hendrickson, and someone who could thrive under Vrabel's tutelage.

Arden Key, edge, Tennessee Titans

Key signed with the Titans in 2023, Vrabel's last season with the team. He emerged as a starter that season, logging 30 tackles and six sacks, and has remained a steady presence on the edge for Tennessee.

Key is 29 and will be a free agent after the season, giving the Titans little reason to hold onto him. His familiarity with Vrabel's scheme would make him a plug-and-play pickup who would add much-needed depth to New England's edge rush rotation.

A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Look, just because Pelissero opined the Patriots have bigger needs elsewhere doesn't mean the team will shy away from receiver entirely. New England is still benefitting from Maye's rookie contract, so it can afford to spend big at the position to provide the second-year phenom some support.

Vrabel famously appeared perturbed when the Titans traded Brown during the 2022 NFL Draft for the pick that became Treylon Burks. Perhaps the 50-year-old will pound the table for his former top wide-out if Brown's relationship with the Eagles sours after a slow start to the 2025 NFL season.

Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

Bill Belichick made a lot of mistakes on his way out of New England. One of his most baffling decisions was letting Jakobi Meyers walk in free agency before giving JuJu Smith-Schuster a contract that nearly matched the one Meyers received from the Raiders.

The Patriots could have a chance to right that wrong, while the Raiders (2-4) continue to remain at the bottom of the AFC West. Meyers is in the final year of the three-year, $33 million deal he signed during the 2023 offseason and would provide the Patriots a sure-handed slot receiver who could allow Diggs to play more outside.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patriots trade targets: 8 players New England could pursue at NFL trade deadline

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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