New England Patriots - NESN.com
Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline passed without the New England Patriots making a notable splash. They reportedly negotiated with one team despite a prior report claiming that squad wasn’t a possible trade partner.
NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry wrote Wednesday that the Patriots talked with the Tennessee Titans before the deadline. They targeted linebacker Dre’Mont Jones, whom Tennessee moved to the Baltimore Ravens.
Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal reported Tuesday that the Titans could be “unwilling” to deal with the Patriots and help their former head coach, Mike Vrabel.
“Tennessee was, in fact, willing to negotiate with New England despite the franchise’s history with Vrabel,” Perry wrote. “Just couldn’t get anything done.”
Perry said the Patriots stood firm on their market values and wouldn’t overpay for any target. Baltimore sent a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick to Tennessee for Jones, who has 4.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits in his last four games.
Pass rushing was frequently identified as an area New England could upgrade at the deadline, but they stood pat after moving linebacker Keion White and safety Kyle Dugger. Perry said the front office “set limits on what they’d be willing to spend” and didn’t budge when a trade didn’t materialize within those parameters.
It’s unclear whether the Patriots and Titans discussed Arden Key, Tony Pollard or Calvin Ridley, but all three remain in Tennessee. The Patriots will hope their roster, as constructed, is good enough to preserve their narrow AFC East lead over the Buffalo Bills and notch their first playoff win since Tom Brady’s departure.
