The New England Patriots approached the NFL trade deadline as leaders of the AFC East while reportedly evaluating potential upgrades to their pass rush and offensive depth.
Despite those discussions, the organization opted against making any moves before the cutoff passed.
Head coach Mike Vrabel did not provide specifics on how close the Patriots came to finalizing any transactions, but he did have an interesting analogy about trade deadline deals.
“Deals are like being pregnant. You either are or you aren’t. So I don’t know how close you could be. I know that everyone worked hard and that we investigated and made phone calls,” Vrabel said.
Reporter: "Were the #Patriots close to making a trade on Tuesday?"
Mike Vrabel: “Deals are like being pregnant. You either are or you aren't. … So I don't know how close you could be." pic.twitter.com/QgJS07I3vj
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 5, 2025
The Patriots conducted their evaluations and explored available options but ultimately decided to move forward with their current roster.
Multiple reports indicated that New England examined possibilities at running back before the deadline.
Despite offensive success led by quarterback Drake Maye, who leads the NFL in completion percentage, the rushing attack has struggled.
The Patriots rank 17th in rushing yards per game at 112.3 and 25th in yards per attempt at 3.9 entering their Week 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Veteran running back Rhamondre Stevenson missed Week 9 with a toe injury, forcing rookie TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings into expanded roles.
The pair combined for 90 rushing yards in a narrow victory against the Atlanta Falcons.
Though their performances were encouraging, an extended absence for Stevenson could expose limited depth at the position.
Vrabel expressed no regrets about the decision-making process, emphasizing confidence in the front office’s thorough evaluation leading up to the deadline.
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