5 potential trade targets for Patriots with deadline three weeks away

FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots are a team on the rise.

They’re 4-2, have won three straight, and while it’s early, look like they’re primed for a playoff run.

Like any team with playoff aspirations, the Patriots front office should be looking to enhance the roster, and make the group even more formidable down the stretch.

The Patriots should be buyers before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, which is three weeks away. They have depth issues all over the lot.

Running back, defensive end, cornerback, tight end, offensive tackle, wide receiver, you name it, they could use a bump at most if not all of those positions.

If you’re talking tackle, there aren’t many - if any - of those to go around. The better tackles just aren’t available via trade.

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During the early days of Bill Belichick, the former Patriots head coach and decision-maker was particularly adept at engineering useful trade deadline acquisitions (Aqib Talib, Kyle Van Noy).

Vrabel, Eliot Wolf, Ryan Cowden et al need to do the same.

Here’s 5 players the Patriots should target:

Arden Key, Edge, Tennessee

When Harold Landry went down with an apparent leg injury during Sunday’s win over the Saints, returning a series later, the Patriots dodged a bullet.

He’s their best pass rusher and edge defender, and Vrabel has little else behind him.

K’Lavon Chaisson has held the spot opposite Landry, but he’s been dealing with a knee injury that kept him out of the Buffalo game.

Keion White, who missed the game with an elbow injury, has largely been invisible. Anfernee Jennings has had a nagging ankle injury. Elijah Ponder, meanwhile, is still learning on the job as a rookie.

The past two weeks, linebacker Jahlani Tavai has been utilized out on the edge as a stopgap.

All of this is a long way of saying they need help out on the edge.

Key, who’s 29, has dropped off as a pass rusher in recent years, but he’s still a good run defender.

He’ll likely be available because the Titans will be sellers, and Key is in the last year of his contract.

Beyond Key, two other edge defenders to watch are Miami’s Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillips. They could be dealt at the deadline.

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans

Olave didn’t exactly make the best case Sunday, unable to make a few plays he should have made, but he’s super-talented.

A change of scenery might do him wonders.

The Patriots receiving group as a whole has come on strong in recent weeks with Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and and DeMario “Pop” Douglas showing good chemistry with Drake Maye. It wouldn’t hurt to kick the tires on a receiver, especially one with Olave’s ability.

He’s an Ohio State alum, which gives him a connection with Vrabel. Olave also played well in previous games against the Titans when Vrabel coached in Tennessee.

He’s amassed over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons in the NFL.

If we’re talking about New Orleans, Rashid Shaheed, a receiver with elite speed, is another to kick the tires on from the Saints.

If A.J. Brown is made available, which seems doubtful, he’s another to pursue. Ditto former Patriot Jakobi Meyers. He might actually jump to the head of the list, given his familiarity with Josh McDaniels’ offense.

Olave, however, is 25 with a bright future ahead.

David Njoku, TE, Cleveland

The Browns have positioned themselves to be sellers at the deadline (they already shipped out Joe Flacco).

When it comes to tight end, the Patriots are a Hunter Henry or Austin Hooper injury away from being in trouble.

Tight end is such an important position in Josh McDaniels offense. With Mike Vrabel having served as a consultant to the Browns last season, he’s pretty familiar with their roster.

Njoku has been one of the NFL’s better tight ends in recent years.

Between quarterback (Dillon Gabriel) and running back (Quinshon Judkins), the Browns appear to be going with a youth movement.

Third-round draft pick Harold Fannin Jr. has impressed enough where the Browns might consider moving Njoku. He’s affordable, with the Browns restructuring his deal in 2023.

Roger McCreary, CB, Tennessee

Cornerback is another area where depth issue. The Patriots are one injury away from trouble.

McCreary was drafted by the Titans in 2022, when Vrabel was still at the helm, and Jon Robinson was the general manager.

The 25-year-old defensive back is in a contract year. The Titans might be looking for a trade partner for the former Auburn star, as opposed to re-signing him.

He’s primarily a nickel corner. The Patriots could use help behind Marcus Jones. The cupboard is pretty bare at that position.

Breece Hall (or any other available Jet), RB, NY Jets

There are quite a few teams in need of running back help, most notably Kansas City.

Based on where the Patriots stood ahead of the season, running back appeared to be one of the team’s greatest strengths.

Now, not so much.

Antonio Gibson (knee) is out for the year.

Rhamondre Stevenson has had fumbling issues, and now appears to be too focused on protecting the football that he’s gotten tentative.

Rookie TreVeyon Henderson, meanwhile, has yet to live up to the hype.

Against New Orleans, quarterback Drake Maye was the team’s leading rusher with 28 yards. Henderson (9 carries 27 yards), and Stevenson (13 carries, 18 yards) struggled against the Saints.

Hall, as well as several other notable Jets, could be on the block given the team’s 0-6 start.

Whether it’s via trade, someone off the street, the Patriots need help in the run game.

Drake Maye and the offense can’t survive being one-dimensional.

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