Patriots Not Expected to Make Major Move Before NFL Trade Deadline
The 5-3 New England Patriots are not expected to make a big move before the NFL trade deadline Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Sources say the club wants to protect future assets, has about $5 million in cap space and flies to Munich on Wednesday.
The New England Patriots, 5-3 and set to host the Green Bay Packers at 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, are not expected to make a major move before the NFL trade deadline Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, according to sources familiar with the team's thinking.
Anyone searching for the Pats game today will find a team already looking past the Packers to the deadline and a trip overseas.
Near the top of the list of reasons is an unwillingness to give up significant assets from future Patriots teams. The club did that in June, trading a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick for receiver A.J. Brown.
That does not mean the Patriots will stand still. Sources said avenues to help the injury-ravaged 2026 roster have been and will be explored, but any deal is more likely to be modest, aimed at depth at a position of need.
Cap space and travel
The Patriots have about $5 million in salary cap space. Some of it must cover routine in-season moves, such as players elevated from the practice squad or shuffled on and off injured reserve. They cannot take on a higher-paid player without first clearing room.
The team also leaves for Munich on Wednesday ahead of next Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. That complicates bringing in a new player by Tuesday's deadline.
Barmore questions
One question has lingered for a week: whether New England might move players. National NFL reporter Albert Breer said the Patriots have "listened and talked to other teams" about trading defensive tackle Christian Barmore.
Barmore is third on the depth chart behind Milton Williams and Cory Durden. He is due non-guaranteed salaries of $18 million in 2027 and $19 million in 2028. He would count $23.6 million against the cap in 2027 and $24.6 million in 2028.
Players noticed the chatter. Williams, the sixth-year defensive tackle, said they see the reports because everybody has a phone.
"It's tough seeing guys you're going to war with mentioned in talks like that, but that just lets you know that nobody is safe in this business," Williams said. He said he plans to tell teammates to "use it as fuel, use it as motivation."
Starting cornerback Carlton Davis III, who has a neck injury, did not finish last week's win over the Dolphins and appeared to be in pain leaving the field. By the end of the week, he felt ready to play against the Packers.
