Patriots' 2026 Free Agents, Targets and Draft Needs After NFL Super Bowl 60 Loss

This past season, the New England Patriots orchestrated one of the most remarkable turnarounds the NFL has seen in quite some time. After winning just four games in 2024, the Patriots racked up 14 regular-season victories, claimed their first AFC East title since 2019, and made a postseason push to Super Bowl LX.

Head coach Mike Vrabel proved to be the right head coach for the franchise, as he immediately restored a winning culture and led the Patriots to their best record since 2016. The return of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels paid huge dividends, too, as he helped turn second-year quarterback Drake Maye into an MVP favorite.

Maye lost the MVP to Matthew Stafford but got to start a Super Bowl instead.

New England spent most of the year looking like the best team in the AFC, and it only missed out on the No. 1 seed because of tiebreakers. They didn't get to battle the Seattle Seahawks for the Lombardi Trophy because of a fluke.

Now that the Patriots' postseason run has ended, though, Vrabel and top executive Eliot Wolf have work to do.

As impressive as New England's 2025 run was, there are areas of the roster that can be improved. Wolf and Co. will look to address them during free agency, which will open on March 11, and in April's draft. Here's what's ahead of the Patriots in the 2026 offseason.

Free Agents

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Patriots edge K'Lavon Chaisson

Unrestricted Free Agents

Edge K'Lavon Chaisson

S Jaylinn Hawkins

TE Austin Hooper

OT Vederian Lowe

DL Khyiris Tonga

Restricted/Exclusive-Rights Free Agents

CB Alex Austin

QB Tommy DeVito

OT Yasir Durant

LB Jack Gibbens

DT Jaquelin Roy

TE/FB Jack Westover

The Patriots are in a very unique position. Not only is New England one of the top teams in the AFC, but it also happens to have a young roster, and an inexpensive one.

That will change as players like Maye, offensive tackle Will Campbell, and star cornerback Christian Gonzalez move into their second contracts—and Gonzalez will be extension-eligible this offseason.

For now, though, the Patriots don't have many of their own impending free agents to address. Jack Gibbens, Jaylinn Hawkins, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Khyiris Tonga were important defensive contributors in 2025, while Austin Hooper and Vederian Lowe provide depth on offense. However, that's pretty much the extent of New England's free-agent class.

The Patriots have a handful of restricted free agents, though none are likely to draw significant attention from other teams—unless a QB-needy team is really sold on Tommy DeVito.

With $33.2 million in projected 2026 cap space, the Patriots should have no trouble bringing back whoever they choose, extending a few players early, and still having the capital needed to make a splash move or two in March.

Potential Free-Agent/Trade Targets

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Edge Odafe Oweh

The Patriots' Super Bowl window is only just now opening, so they may not be eager to go all-in on a blockbuster win-now trade. However, New England will probably show interest if a star like pass-rusher Maxx Crosby or wide receiver A.J. Brown were to end up on the trade market at a reasonable price point.

Realistically, though, the Patriots will probably hang onto their 2026 draft capital and revisit the trade landscape closer to the regular season.

In free agency, New England should make a concerted effort to improve its pass rush. Even though the Patriots added Chaisson, Milton Williams, and Harold Landry III last offseason, an underwhelming pass rush was arguably the team's biggest defensive weakness.

Free agent sack artists like Jaelan Phillips and Odafe Oweh should be near the top of New England's wish list.

The Patriots could use improved depth along the offensive line, too. While adding Campbell in the first round of last year's draft was a nice start, New England should do more to keep Maye upright—he was sacked 47 times in 2025. The team should be eyeing free agents like guard Wyatt Teller, tackle Braden Smith, and guard/tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker going into free agency.

While New England did a good job of improving its receiving corps over the last year, it could use more playmakers in the lineup. If the chance to land a top-tier pass-catcher like George Pickens (who ESPN's Adam Schefter recently reported will get the franchise tag) or Kyle Pitts presents itself, the Patriots must be willing to pounce.

New England should also keep tabs on receivers Tyreek Hill and Brandon Aiyuk, who appear to be strong candidates to be released before or at the start of the new league year in March.

Maye had an incredible sophomore campaign, and the Patriots should be excited to see what he can do with an even stronger supporting cast.

Draft Targets

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Utah OT prospect Caleb Lomu

While the Patriots may take a few big swings in March, they're likely to target key positions like edge-rusher, wide receiver, and offensive tackle early in April's draft, too. These are positions of need and positions where rookie contracts can provide a ton of value.

Looking long-term, the Patriots should be looking to have as much of the supporting cast on the same timeline as Maye as possible. Tight end isn't a significant need with Hunter Henry on the roster, but New England probably won't shy away from drafting one early if an elite prospect is available in the right draft range.

Prospects like USC wideout Makai Lemon, Auburn edge-rusher Keldric Faulk, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and Penn State interior lineman Olaivavega Ioane should draw some level of first-round interest from the Patriots heading into draft weekend. However, the Bleacher Report Scouting Department paired New England with Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu in its post-regular season mock draft:

"New England can buy Lomu some time before taking over at right tackle," Brandon Thorn of the B/R Scouting Department said. "The first-team All-Big 12 performer requires significant development, but he's excellent value and a strong bet for the Patriots at this juncture."

Prospects like Oklahoma edge-defender R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma receiver Deion Burks, LSU linebacker Whit Weeks, Baylor tight end Michael Trigg, Florida edge-rusher Tyreak Sapp, Auburn offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin, and Rutgers receiver Ian Strong should interest the Patriots on Day 2 and early on Day 3.

In all, New England is set to have 11 draft selections, including one each in the first three rounds and four sixth-round picks. Those late Day-3 selections could help the Patriots move around the board and get the players they wand most early in the draft.

*Cap, contract and free-agent status information via Spotrac. Draft information via Tankathon