After a surprising loss to the Las Vegas Raiders to begin the 2025 NFL season, the Mike Vrabel-led New England Patriots are hitting their stride. They've won five straight games heading into Week 9, and they sit atop the AFC East with an impressive 6-2 record.
Conventional wisdom would say that teams with this standing, especially those with a quarterback on a rookie deal, should be buyers at the trade deadline. However, the Patriots have been sellers, so far, as that November 4 deadline approaches.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Patriots struck a deal with the San Francisco 49ers, sending defensive end Keion White and a 2026 7th-round pick to the 49ers for a 2026 6th-rounder.