FOXBORO — Welcome to the Friday Five!

Each week during the NFL regular season, I will drop five Patriots-related thoughts on Friday to recap the week that was in Foxboro and look ahead to kickoff.

Ready, set, football.

1. Judon trade revisited

Barring a complete stunner, the Patriots have already completed the only blockbuster trade they will make before Tuesday’s deadline.

In August, they shipped Matthew Judon to Atlanta for a 2025 third-round pick, a move that signaled leadership was comfortable diving headfirst into a difficult rebuild and parting with players who grew difficult in contract negotiations. Even though the Patriots have since pulled off two upsets as touchdown underdogs, the Judon trade is their biggest win of the season.

Through eight starts in Atlanta, Judon has recorded just 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and one QB hit. Prorated over the rest of the season, those numbers would fall short of what Judon produced last year in three and a half games for the Patriots.

Judon’s underlying metrics aren’t great, either. Among edge-rushers with at least 150 pass-rushing snaps, Judon’s 7.3% win rate ranks 47th out of 53 players, per Pro Football Focus. He’s averaging barely 1.5 pressures per game, and his PFF grade for run defense is tracking for a career low. Judon has also been flagged for three penalties.

Meanwhile, Atlanta’s third-rounder will likely land in the top 90 next April, giving the Patriots either a potential future starter or more ammo to move up in the first or second round without surrendering their own third-round pick.

2. Kayshon Boutte, filling a need

Is it too early to call him “Big-play Boutte?”

Yes, especially after his two drops last weekend. But when the Patriots have needed an explosive gain or clutch catch lately, they’ve turned to two people: Hunter Henry and Boutte.

Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt had praise for both players Thursday, but notably described Boutte’s last four games as “exceptional.” Boutte’s growth has been pivotal for the Patriots, who specifically lack a wideout capable of winning 1-on-1 outside at the “X” receiver position. That receiver often works in isolation, as Boutte did on his 34-yard catch versus the Jets, 31-yarder against Jacksonville and 40-yard touchdown in a loss to Houston.

Boutte has broken through despite being shelved as a healthy scratch in Week 2. He’s now averaging 16.8 yards per catch, which would rank top 10 across the NFL if he qualified for the league’s leaderboard with his 11 catches. For that breakthrough, Boutte first and foremost credits a change in mindset.

“You never want to limit yourself going into practice,” he said Thursday. “You never want to set a standard or expectation for yourself. Always do more every day, (I’m) trying to do more and more and more, really pushing myself.”

Secondarily, Boutte has changed his diet. He said he’s cut down his fast food, swapping out McDonald’s for more homemade meals with red meat, beans, rice and even catfish.

“Coming in from college, you don’t really have a full understanding (of nutrition),” he said. “Just kind of going from the first year to that second year, seeing how vets take care of their body, and do different things to keep them going, you really get a better understanding.”

And better production, too.

3. A ‘Titanic’ showdown in Tennessee

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) and guard Mike Onwenu prepare to line up during the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023 in Foxboro. Will both return to the team? (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

While Christian Gonzalez and Calvin Ridley steal headlines this week ahead of their projected head-to-head battle Sunday, another matchup deserves your attention: Patriots right guard Mike Onwenu versus Titans defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons.

Simmons is the rock upon which Tennessee has built its defense, a two-time Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro honoree. He’s ranked among the NFL’s best defenders for years, let alone defensive linemen.

“I remember playing (Simmons) back in my Colts days,” Pats quarterback Jacoby Brissett said this week, “and he always gave us a lot of fits.”

After yielding zero pressures in a win over the Jets last weekend, Onwenu is coming off one of his better games. The Patriots expected more performances like that from the 26-year-old when they made him one of the NFL’s highest-paid offensive linemen this offseason. Overall, while Onwenu has underwhelmed, neutralizing Simmons would make a statement about his standing in the league.

“He’s a dominant player,” Onwenu said.

More important to the Patriots, Onwenu winning his battle would go a long way to winning their war on Sunday.

4. Dont’a Hightower, stoic

Coach Dont’a Hightower during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Sometime years ago, he can’t remember exactly when, Dont’a Hightower connected with American marketer, author and podcaster Ryan Holiday.

Holiday, famous for spreading stoicism, left an imprint on the Patriots’ legend. Hightower says he’s taken stoicism inside his position room and incorporated it into his coaching philosophy.

“At the end of the day, it’s really about (controlling) what you can control. And a lot of that stuff is really just your mindset and your attitude,” Hightower said Thursday. “And, you know, whatever it is, it is.”

Stoic philosophy long shaped NFL programs and especially the Patriots’ under Bill Belichick, whom Holiday mentions in one of his books. Hightower said he once bumped into Holiday on vacation, and their families spent time together at the beach. The two have since formed a friendship, and even text now and then.

“He’s a great dude just to bounce wisdom and knowledge off of,” Hightower said, “and I greatly appreciate it.”

As for the wisdom he’s imparting to players like Jahlani Tavai, Raekwon McMillan, Christian Elliss and others, Hightower said: “Playing linebacker, especially in this defense, there’s a lot of stuff that’s on your plate. … If you look at it like that, s— it is overwhelming. It is a lot. But at the same time, you’ve take it one snap at a time, one play at a time. And again, being able to control what you can control, accepting what it is whether you messed up or not. And when you messed up, having that accountability to admit that, come in and get the coaching, and just do better.”

Related Articles

Patriots-Titans injury report: Drake Maye limited again, Ja’Lynn Polk upgraded Thursday

It’s on Christian Gonzalez to stop Patriots’ offseason target Calvin Ridley

Where Patriots see ‘exceptional’ play in Drake Maye’s continued development

Patriots have already been playing Joshua Uche’s replacement in defense

Patriots, Drake Maye get good news at Thursday practice before Titans game

5. Remember this

On Wednesday, Jerod Mayo confirmed the Patriots will weigh leadership when considering whether to deal veteran players ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Having lost several captains this season, doing so feels like a wise move if Mayo, as a first-year coach, intends to maintain buy-in through the end of what’s been a trying season.

But in his explanation, Mayo also volunteered it’s important for coaches to maintain buy-in, as well, saying: “I think you bring up an interesting point as far as, like, the culture guys. I do think that’s important. I also would say I think it’s important with the coaches as well, to bring in guys that really believe in the culture and where we’re trying to go.”

At one point this offseason, Mayo acknowledged that it’s typical for a rookie head coach to make changes to his coaching staff after his first year. Is it possible Mayo already has some assistants in mind?

File that quote away for January.