5 Patriots Most LIkely to Be Traded by the Deadline

New England Patriots fans are riding a high following Week 7's 29-25 upset win over the rival Buffalo Bills. Even if some doubters are back to being believers, the victory doesn't change the reality of the franchise's current situation.

The Patriots are still at the bottom of the AFC East with a 2-5 record ahead of Week 8. The postseason is still a long shot, too, with FanDuel Sportsbook only giving New England +1200 odds to make the playoffs — an implied probability of just 7.1%.

As such, all signs point to the Patriots being sellers at the Oct. 31 trade deadline. It's probably for the best, too. With New England likely missing the playoffs for the third time in four seasons, Bill Belichick would be wise to sell off the extra fat in exchange for draft picks to help build for the future.

With that in mind, here are the five Patriots who are most like to be traded by next week's deadline.

5 Patriots Most Likely Traded by Oct. 31 Deadline

1. Kendrick Bourne

In a year where New England's wide receiver room has been among the worst in the NFL, Kendrick Bourne has been one of the few bright spots.

Bourne leads all Patriots WRs in receptions (34), receiving yards (370) and touchdowns (3) through seven games. In fact, he's only only wideout on the team who's found the end zone this season.

Nevertheless, the 28-year-old's time in New England could be coming to an end. Bourne is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and could be tempted to test the open market if the Patriots are heading toward a full-on rebuild.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler also reports that New England "could" try to see what they can get for Bourne "as they did last year." The former Eastern Washington product would be a solid WR3/4 for most contending teams and the fact that he's an upcoming free agent means any interested parties likely wouldn't have to give up too much.

Rather than lose him for nothing in March, expect the Patriots to try to get something for Bourne by Oct. 31.

2. Ezekiel Elliott

New England brought in Ezekiel Elliott over the offseason to complement Rhamondre Stevenson after Damien Harris joined the rival Buffalo Bills. Even though the ex-Dallas Cowboy is no longer in his prime, the Patriots still had hopes that he could contribute on power downs and in the red zone.

Elliott has had mixed results this year. On one hand, his yards per carry (3.7) have declined for the second straight season and he's only rushed for more than 34 yards once. On the other, he's shown some life with touchdown runs in each of his last two outings, potentially signaling a resurgence.

If the we were competing for a playoff spot, I'd be on board with keeping Elliott in the backfield. But do we really need him?

Like Bourne, Elliott is due to hit free agency in 2024 and I can't see him re-signing with New England. The 28-year-old only has so many years left in the tank and likely wants to chase a championship, which won't be a realistic goal if the Patriots don't plan on being competitive.

With how easily RB-related injuries can pile up, a contender might find Elliott attractive as an insurance policy. He's no longer a three-down rusher, but he's still fine as a backup or even as a goal-line threat.

Even if a deal only nets New England a seventh-rounder, it's still better than nothing.

3. Josh Uche

Patriots fans were ready to see linebacker Josh Uche in a bigger role after a terrific 2022 campaign. The former Michigan Wolverine racked up 12.5 sacks in 15 games despite only playing 38% of defensive snaps without a single start.

Fast forward to 2023 and Uche is still in the same role as he was last year. The 25-year-old defender has only started in two of six games, playing 36% of snaps along the way. His play has been a bit quieter this time around, however, with 2 sacks and 6 total tackles.

Uche is also an upcoming free agent, but I wouldn't be shocked if New England doesn't attempt to bring him back. He knows he can be productive with limited playing time, but it's becoming increasingly clear that the organization doesn't view him as a full-time starter.

If there's no chance of the two sides working something out, Uche should be moved. He's one of the better backup linebackers in the league and would immediately improve any team's depth at the position. Playing in a new environment also allows him to prove if he can sink or swim in a bigger role.

The last thing the Pats need is for the offseason to come and they're unable to re-sign Uche, making them regret not moving him before Halloween.

4. Mike Onwenu

It's shocking for some to see Mike Onwenu as a trade candidate. The fourth-year blocker was one of the better offensive guards in the NFL last season, but a disappointing 2023 campaign has caused his job security to disappear.

In the 2022 season, Onwenu only allowed 1 sack with 2 penalties across 1,044 offensive snaps — good for a 79.3 overall grade on Pro Football Focus. This year, however, the Detroit, MI native has played to a 54.6 grade after taking 4 penalties on 254 snaps.

Onwenu's down season has caused him to become one of New England's top trade chips, per sources close to The Boston Herald's Doug Kyed.

However, despite his current struggles, Onwenu's past likely makes him an attractive trade target. The Patriots' offensive line play has been underwhelming as a whole, so it's fair to list his down year as an anomaly. The right team with a winning environment could be what he needs for a turnaround.

Onwenu's status as a free agent at the end of the year only increases the probability that he's traded. If he likes New England enough he can always return to the organization in the spring.

5. Kyle Dugger

If the Patriots want to add a Day 2 draft pick to their cupboard, trading safety Kyle Dugger might be the way to go.

Dugger has been a key piece of New England's secondary for the last three seasons. His 2023 numbers aren't as impressive as last year, but he's still up to 31 solo tackles with 2 broken-up passes through seven games.

While some Patriots fans might want the 27-year-old to stick around, I wouldn't hold my breath. Dugger also hits free agency in 2024, and chances are we've already seen his peak due to his age. New England could try to capitalize on his value while they still can in case he further regresses next year.

Considering how Kyed's sources theorize that the Patriots could receive a second-round pick for Dugger, exploring any possible trade options is a must. He's a solid player when he's on his game, but a potential Round 2 pick is too valuable to pass up on — especially for a deadline rental.

If the price is right and a deal betters New England's future, a deal will be made.

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