“This is our first year, we’ve been through this, and we got to get it right,” Mike Vrabel said before the Patriots’ game with the Giants. The preseason finale could be a chance for the Patriots to size up the roster. The coach has his starters sitting out, so perhaps the microscope will be on the remaining players as they get their shot in the game. It could also shape the team’s future, as the Patriots have to trim their 53-man roster soon after the game. And it seems the Patriots are already a step ahead when it comes to trade talks.

As the squad kicks off the preseason finale, the Patriots, on the other hand, are also moving ahead with their rumored trades, as per Zach Gatsby. He just took to his X to announce that Vrabel and the team are interested in acquiring an edge rusher. At the same time, he is clearing up roster spots. As reported, S Kyle Dugger and LB Anfernee Jennings are being discussed in trade talks. “The #Patriots remain interested in trading for an EDGE rusher as the 53-man cutdown nears, per reports. They’re also actively shopping S Kyle Dugger and LB Anfernee Jennings, with DE Keion White’s name being thrown around in trade talks,” Gatsby wrote.

As per sources, both players have seen reduced action since Mike Vrabel took over. Dugger and Jennings found themselves in a strange spot last week, playing deep into the second half against Minnesota, something veterans of their caliber almost never do. Dugger even sealed the win with a last-second interception, while Jennings racked up three sacks. On paper, their production speaks for itself: Dugger had 81 tackles last season, second-most on the team, while Jennings wasn’t far behind with 78. But the late reps and recent practice rotations tell another story.

Rookie Craig Woodson and veteran Jaylinn Hawkins have been getting reps over Dugger. And the irony is: These rumors came just a year after the safety signed a four-year deal with the team valued at $58 million. On the other hand, Jennings has seen his role challenged with added depth at edge-names like Keion White, Harold Landry, and K’Lavon Chaisson crowding the rotation. Both Dugger and Jennings have been steady contributors since being drafted in 2020, but the picture feels different now.

Dugger, a team captain just last season, is still working back from a high-ankle sprain and hasn’t looked like himself. Jennings, known for setting the edge against the run, faces questions about how he fits into Vrabel’s new defensive scheme. Although Vrabel has praised his competitiveness, sure, his actions are bringing in more players at Jennings’s spot.

So, does the coach agree with the rumors? Well, per reports, he is not unfamiliar with what is circulating on social media. So, during his appearance on @985TheSportsHub, the coach said that he has heard the rumors but is unlikely to address them. “I don’t know, you reported a lot of things that may not have been true, so I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in the reports that go around. You know that better than anybody,” he said.

The time is ticking fast. And if winning is the goal for the Patriots, these rumors don’t seem surprising. Now, that is just half of the picture, as the team has some roster spots open.

Mike Vrabel’s Patriots have several roster spots open

Vrabel’s comment during his earlier interview sheds more light on the Pats roster. During the conversation with 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Scott Zolak, the coach was asked about the roster and the positions before the preseason finale. And Vrabel had an interesting answer. “There’s a lot more than [three or four roster spots] that are available, and a lot of things will change between now and the regular season,” he said. Ah, so the sockwaves are coming for the locker room.

Additionally, this shows several Patriots players headed into the preseason finale against the Giants with roster spots still undecided. There could be some undecided spots in the offense, wide receivers, and tight ends’ rooms, too. And these could still shift depending on performance. The offensive line is also unsettled, with players like Jared Wilson being moved around despite initially looking like locked-in starters during training camp.

Nevertheless, unfortunately, the Patriots were handed a tough defeat by the Giants. It didn’t go well for Dugger, who ended up breaking his own record this preseason and ended his game with an interception. The deal remains the same with the Patriots, who will likely confirm their 53-man roster soon.