The 2014 NFL trade deadline is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Oct. 28, and one team that should be very busy before then is the New England Patriots.

The Patriots lost a significant player on the offensive side of the ball. Running back Stevan Ridley will miss the remainder of the season after he tore his ACL against the Buffalo Bills in Week 6.

Shane Vereen isn't a very good runner between the tackles, and Brandon Bolden can't carry the load. The Patriots have just three rushing touchdowns this entire season, two of which came from Ridley. As a team, the Patriots rank 20th overall in rushing yards.

Having said that, the Patriots need to make a move before the trade deadline to stay competitive.

One option the Patriots could make is bringing back LeGarrette Blount, who flourished with the Patriots last season, especially during the playoffs. Blount knows the system very well and he would get the high amount of carries he so desires.

Blount is currently signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a two-year contract. The Steelers could come out big winners in this trade as well. This season, Blount has just one game where he has surpassed 30 yards. In addition to not performing very well with the Steelers, Blount isn't getting enough carries. In seven games, Blount has run the ball just 44 times all season, barely more than six carries a game.

In other words, the Steelers aren't getting enough bang for their buck.

Le'Veon Bell has been fantastic this season, so the Steelers don't need much from Blount. However, the Steelers could use some young wide receiver help. Patriots receivers Aaron Dobson (23) and Brian Tyms (25) aren't getting playing time at all. A trade between the Steelers backup running back and Patriots backup receivers could be beneficial to everyone involved.

The second option is Knile Davis.

It's a long shot because the Kansas City Chiefs love this guy and he's a bruiser. On the other hand, they may want to trade him now before he demands the big contract. Davis is still making less than $1 million per season, a huge steal for this franchise. Quarterback Alex Smith could use some new targets to throw to, maybe even some new draft picks.

Davis has been great this season rushing for 352 yards and four touchdowns, but Jamaal Charles is still the man in Kansas City. The Chiefs have a great opportunity here to get value before the trade deadline.

If both the Chiefs and Steelers refuse to trade their running backs, there is a third option.

The Patriots could sign free agent running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Green Ellis played with the Patriots from 2008 to 2011, and did fairly well. In 2010, he ran for 1,008 yards and 13 touchdowns with the Patriots. In 2011, he was the leading rusher on the Patriots team that made it all the way to the Super Bowl. Green-Ellis scored 24 rushing touchdowns in his last two season with the Patriots.

Green-Eillis isn't the second coming of Emmitt Smith or Jim Brown, but he is a quality running back and he knows the Patriots' system.

With the trade deadline just days away and the Patriots having so many holes at the running back position, it appears as if they must make an addition to help Tom Brady have a balanced attack on offense.

For up-to-date sports news, scores, and more, follow Latin Post Sports on Twitter

FOR MORE NFL NEWS, TRADE AND FREE AGENCY UPDATES, CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VISIT LATIN POST.COM'S SPORTS PAGE