The New England Patriots sit at 5-3, but the clock is ticking on a massive cap hit for defensive tackle Christian Barmore. The team faces a choice: keep a player whose spot is shaky or flip him for future help. According to Sports Illustrated national NFL reporter Albert Breer, the front office has “listened and talked to other teams” about moving Barmore. This isn’t just idle chatter. The numbers make the case for selling loud and clear.
Barmore is the third man on the depth chart behind starters Milton Williams and Cory Durden. His contract looks like a trap for a team trying to build for the long haul. The cap impact of those massive figures is $23.6 million in 2027 and $24.6 million in 2028. Keeping him blocks a key roster spot while draining resources needed for the 2026 season.
Head Coach Shrugs Off the Noise
Despite the rumors swirling all week, head coach Mike Vrabel is trying to calm the locker room. He denied that moving Barmore is a top priority right now. “I have not shared that information with anybody,” Vrabel said. He noted that the trade deadline often gets “drummed up” by media stories. The coach insists the team is focused on preparing for Green Bay and fixing mistakes from past games. This is business as normal for the staff, even if the front office is looking at options.
The players know what is happening, though. They see the headlines and the social media posts. “We see the reports. We see everything. Everybody has their phone. Once somebody posts something, it’s on every app you can go to, or somebody will send it to you,” said Williams. He added that the situation shows “nobody is safe in this business.” It is tough seeing teammates mentioned in talks, but the NFL is a business first.
Assets Matter More Than Depth
With roughly $5 million in salary cap space, the Patriots lack the funds to absorb a high-salaried player without cuts elsewhere. They already gave up a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder to get A.J. Brown in the offseason. The front office seems unwilling to sacrifice more future assets for short-term depth. Any deal should look like the modest moves from the Bill Belichick era, such as swapping a sixth-round pick for a seventh-round pick and a player like Kyle Van Noy.
The team is scheduled to depart for Munich on Wednesday to play the Detroit Lions next Sunday. This travel adds a wrinkle to adding a new player before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. This season, the Patriots rank 12th in the NFL for cash spending. They need to be smart with the remaining money. The deadline is Tuesday, November 10. The next game is Sunday, November 8, at 4:25 p.m. ET against the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium.
