The New England Patriots have been rolling to start the 2025 season and appear to be buyers ahead of the trade deadline. The Athletic's Dianna Russini released an article on Saturday discussing some nuggets she's been hearing ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline, with the Patriots being one of the teams she's hearing rumblings about.
In the piece, she revealed that New England is looking to add in the defensive end room, but she also noted that running back may be a position to watch.
Russini wrote, "The Patriots are searching for a pass rusher but feel good about their offensive weapons. Running back could be a possibility because of recent injuries."
New England's desire to add to the running back room isn't a surprise. Breece Hall's name has been floated in talks for weeks now, but there's another running back option that has emerged who could be a far cheaper option. And that's Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard.
Russini revealed he's one of the players who's been getting attention around the league, and New England should consider making the move for him.
Tony Pollard Should Be a RB Target on Trade Block for Patriots
The Patriots will be without Rhamondre Stevenson in Week 9 due to a toe injury, meaning they have to lean on TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings against Atlanta. Despite using a second-round pick on Henderson, the coaching staff doesn't seem ready to put more on his plate.
The New York Jets have made it known they are searching for a Day 2 pick, which is a high price for Hall. He's in the last year of his rookie deal and will be searching for a new contract for the 2026 campaign.
Meanwhile, Pollard is signed through the 2026 season, with a $9.25 million cap hit. He could also get released after this season, and the team would only get hit with a $2 million dead cap hit, according to Spotrac. Along with the financial implications, Pollard getting plucked away from New England would likely cost a fifth-rounder.
Despite being on the 32nd-ranked offense in Tennessee, Pollard has still been able to make plays. So far in the 2025 campaign, he has 424 rushing yards, 131 receiving yards, and two rushing touchdowns. The 28-year-old has gone over 1,000 rushing yards for the past three seasons and would be a nice addition to the Pats' backfield.
New England has a chance to make the postseason, and they are seeking to find upgrades for this push. Adding a player like Pollard would be beneficial and would cost far less than a deal for Hall would. Especially since Hall is on a division rival, there would be a tax added to whatever potential deal, and New England doesn't need to go that route.