Kyle Dugger and Christian Gonzalez are just two of the players recently mentioned ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
The New England Patriots have been mentioned repeatedly ahead of the upcoming NFL trade deadline, with several of their players rumored to be available for sale. But while the team very well might be active between now and Tuesday 4 p.m. ET, not all of the rumors are serious in nature according to head coach Jerod Mayo.
Speaking to 98.5 The Sports Hub ahead of his team’s game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Mayo addressed what he referred to as “silly” talk surrounding his team.
“A lot of those things are silly,” he said. “It’s frustrating at times because you always want to be very transparent with the player and let them know. They hear it. When a report comes out that is absolutely 100 percent false, and you have to address it with that individual, it just takes up more time and more headspace.
“Everybody has to work harder — even some of these tips that everyone is getting.”
Standing at 2-6, the Patriots appear to be potential sellers heading into the closing of the league’s trading window. And while they did already part ways with outside linebacker Joshua Uche earlier this week — he was sent to Kansas City for a 2026 sixth-round draft choice — all options appear to be on the table.
That includes parting ways with players such as wide receivers K.J. Osborn or Tyquan Thornton; both of whom are healthy scratches versus Tennessee. Meanwhile, other names who came up recently are not expected to be moved.
It is not a stretch of the imagination that the mention of cornerback Christian Gonzalez and safety Kyle Dugger in recent reports fall under the “silly” category established by Mayo. Both are cornerstones of his team’s defense, and will be through Tuesday’s deadline.