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NFL TRADE DEADLINE

NFL trade deadline: Quiet day across the league as Patriots hold on to veterans

Bill Belichick and the Patriots were not sellers at the deadline.Barry Chin/Globe Staff

There wasn’t much action at the NFL trade deadline. The Patriots did not part ways with Stephon Gilmore or any other players, but did make a trade with an AFC East rival for a wide receiver.

Here is the news from a quiet Tuesday.

Patriots acquire WR Isaiah Ford from Dolphins — 2:53 p.m.

The Patriots added some depth at wide receiver by landing Isaiah Ford in a rare interdivisional trade with the Dolphins.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 200-pound Ford was a seventh-round selection in 2017 from Virginia Tech and has 41 catches in two-plus seasons in Miami. Ford missed his rookie season after sustaining a knee injury in training camp.

By Nicole Yang

Will the Patriots make a move ahead of the NFL trade deadline?

Coach Bill Belichick didn’t offer any indication about the team’s plans several hours ahead of the 4 p.m.deadline.

“I don’t know at this point,” he said Tuesday morning.

Belichick noted there’s typically “a lot more talk than there is action” when it comes to potential transactions. If a deal were to arise, discussions would likely involve Belichick, director of player personnel Nick Caserio, owner Robert Kraft, and the respective position coach.

It’s difficult to project activity, Belichick says, because circumstances can change quickly. Sometimes a dead end ultimately opens up, and, conversely, sometimes a proposed trade seems imminent, only to fall through.

ESPN’s Dianna Russini is reporting that the Patriots are looking for a big return if they were to trade Stephon Gilmore.

Saints trade Kiko Alonso to 49ers for Kwon Alexander — 8:29 p.m.

By the Associated Press

The Saints obtained linebacker Kwon Alexander from the 49ers in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso and a conditional fifth-round draft choice.

Saints coach Sean Payton, who confirmed the trade on Monday, said the draft pick is conditional because it is tied to playing time. Alexander, who is coming off an ankle injury, will be competing for snaps at outside linebacker with Alex Anzelone, Payton said.

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The 30-year-old Alonso has not played this season, which he began on the Saints' physically unable to perform list as he rehabilitates an anterior crucial ligament tear that occurred during a playoff game against Minnesota last season.

Payton said Alexander likely won’t be available for New Orleans' next game Sunday night against Tampa Bay, but hopefully the week after against San Francisco.

Titans trade for DB Desmond King — 5:21 p.m.

By the Associated Press

Coming off their first two losses of the season, the Tennessee Titans made a move to Monday shore up their defense, acquiring defensive back Desmond King from the Los Angeles Chargers for a sixth-round pick.

Ccoach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson made the move a day before Tuesday’s trade deadline, hoping King could come in and help as someone who’s been an effective blitzer. The Titans (5-2) have only seven sacks this season, and only Jacksonville has fewer in the NFL. Vrabel said King will be able to take part in Zoom virtual meetings until the defensive back passes through the testing protocols.

Tennessee currently has the NFL’s worst defense on third down and needs help in a banged-up secondary. Starting cornerback Adoree Jackson has been on injured reserve all season and is in the final week of evaluation to see if he might be activated before Sunday’s game with Chicago (5-3).

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Katie McInerney can be reached at katie.mcinerney@globe.com. Follow her @k8tmac. Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney.