Patriots 2025-26 Offseason Discussion

[Vermont Green]

Pats signed K'Lavon Chaisson to a 1 year deal worth UP to 5 million with incentives. It sounds like it will come in around 3 though. Good low risk high reward signing. He failed to live up to first round hype with the Jags (shocker) but was on the Raiders last year. He had his best year there. He had 5 sacks, 7 TFL an interception and a forced fumble. Also 2 passes defended. He is also still just 25. 6'3 250 speed rusher.

I like this also.  It will probably not be anything more than some specialized depth for the defense, but nothing wrong with that.  Vrabel is putting a lot into improving this defense.  This is another interesting piece to add to the puzzle.

[Vermont Green]

With Andrews being released (sad news btw, I'll miss him) this team basically has 3 spots on the O-Line they still got to figure out. And I'm sorry, I'm not spending another season just "praying" Sow, Strange, etc. all work out. PUKE.

Go sign Jenkins or Becton for LG, Robinson at RT, and slide Strange to center. Come on, they have the cap space. If you don't want to spend on Kupp, use it all on O-Line. Then use #4 on Hunter (or trade down). Campbell is a guard, taking him at #4 is absolutely idiotic.

It would be nice to have Andrews but not really surprised by this.  I differ on Strange though.  I think he is a good solid player.  I think he can be a solid center, above average.  Hard to say if he will be durable, but other than that, I think he is a good player.

On Sow, he started 13 games in 2023 and was solid.  His PFF rating in 2023 was very good.  Last season, he didn't do much of anything.  I think he started the season with an ankle injury.  Hoping we get the 2023 version of him in 2025.

RG SIDY SOW, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Sow was the only rookie interior offensive lineman to earn a higher PFF run-blocking grade than Joe Tippmann in 2023, coming in at 71.3 and ranking 15th among all guards. He earned a PFF grade above 80.0 in four of his 13 starts.
Jun 17, 2024

If can get 2023 Sidy Sow at one guard, and Onwenu at the other guard, with Strange at Center, that will be a huge improvement.  I know I am suffering from irrational optimism.  We still need a LT, so not quite finished, but this OL is shaping up to be much improved.

[A Future of Stevens]

Pats signed K'Lavon Chaisson to a 1 year deal worth UP to 5 million with incentives. It sounds like it will come in around 3 though. Good low risk high reward signing. He failed to live up to first round hype with the Jags (shocker) but was on the Raiders last year. He had his best year there. He had 5 sacks, 7 TFL an interception and a forced fumble. Also 2 passes defended. He is also still just 25. 6'3 250 speed rusher.

I like this also.  It will probably not be anything more than some specialized depth for the defense, but nothing wrong with that.  Vrabel is putting a lot into improving this defense.  This is another interesting piece to add to the puzzle.

Yeah exactly. If they just use him as a situational pass rusher, hes still underpaid. Or he loves it here and turns into a contributor and we have the inside track to get him under contract (kinda like with Peppers.)

If he is awful, hes like a 3 million cap hit. Thats like 1-2% of the cap haha.

[Vermont Green]

The New England Patriots deepened the safety depth chart on Friday.  The organization agreed to terms with veteran free agent Marcus Epps on a one-year deal worth a max value of $4.4 million, according to NFL Media?s Tom Pelissero.

Epps, 29, is coming off a torn ACL that ended his 2024 season in September. The 6-foot, 191-pound University of Wyoming product has checked into 82 games, including 45 starts, during his NFL run. His career includes 294 tackles and 18 passes defensed to go with three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Some veteran depth in the secondary at a low cost.  Nothing wrong with that.  Active on special teams as well as I understand it.  They also added some OL depth:

The Patriots have reportedly made another addition to their offensive line.  Wes Schweitzer is heading to New England on a one-year deal, NFL Media's Tom Pelissero reported on Friday.  The 31-year-old has played eight NFL seasons since being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2016 draft.

Schweitzer made 36 starts across three seasons with the Falcons before heading to Washington, where he made 24 starts from 2020 to 2022. He spent the last two years with the New York Jets, appearing in 10 games and making two starts, and has played several positions on the offensive line.

Boy, a lot of money spent on the defense so far.  I think that is good, I have no problem with that, it is just a little surprising.  They have added some depth to the OL and also added 1 WR that I can think of.  Seems like the draft is going to include a lot of OL and probably a high end WR.  We have a lot of young WRs already with Polk and Baker.  Boutte and Douglas are young too.  I would be surprised if they drafted more than 1 WR and that 1 will probably be in the first or second round.

[Goldstar88]

Guess the Patriots didn?t think the team needed upgrades at OL and WR. 

[Vermont Green]

There is a website called Ourlads that maintains what appears to be very up to date depth charts.  You can see their Patriots depth cahrt here [https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/NE].

For the starting 11 offense, the only new name is Morgan Moses at RT.  All other 10 projected starters were on the team last season.  The code after the name is how they were acquired.  If drafted, year/round.  Trade or FA, and so on.  I colored the new players in Red. 

LWR   Boutte, Kayshon 23/6
RWR   Bourne, Kendrick U/SF
SWR   Douglas, DeMario 23/6
LT      Lowe, Vederian T/Min
LG     Robinson, Layden 24/4
C       Strange, Cole 22/1
RG    Onwenu, Mike 20/6
RT     MOSES, MORGAN U/NYJ
TE     HENRY, HUNTER U/LAC
QB     Maye, Drake 24/1
RB     Stevenson, Rhamondre 21/4

On defense, there are 5 projected starters that are new to the team.

DE      Williams, Milton U/Phi
NT      Tonga, Khyiris U/Arz
DT      Barmore, Christian 21/2
LOLB   Landry III, Harold CC/Ten
LILB   Bentley, Ja'Whaun 18/5
RILB   Spillane, Robert U/LV
ROLB  Jennings, Anfernee 20/3
LCB    Davis III, Carlton U/Det
SS      Dugger, Kyle 20/2
FS      Peppers, Jabrill U/NYG
RCB    Gonzalez, Christian 23/1

I also wanted to consider those players who missed a substantial part of last season due to injury (or personal reasons), color Green.  It is pretty much an entirely new defense  when you consider both new acquisitions and back from injury players.  8 of 11 new or back from injury.  And if Christian Elliss becomes a starter over Jennings (a real possibility), that would be 9 of 11.  Talk about an overhaul!

Not much change on offense though.  Adding Cole Strange and Morgan Moses to the line is a positive, and upgrade.  Hopefully there will be another OL and maybe a WR from the draft, but the offense overall is pretty much the same, at least as far as the starters.  I still think there is a good chance that Sow would beat out Robinson for RG.  Sow would be a bit of a bounce back category player if that happens.  Duggar may be a bit of a bounce back player too.  He did not look 100% to me until the end of the season.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

There is a website called Ourlads that maintains what appears to be very up to date depth charts.  You can see their Patriots depth cahrt here [https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/NE].

For the starting 11 offense, the only new name is Morgan Moses at RT.  All other 10 projected starters were on the team last season.  The code after the name is how they were acquired.  If drafted, year/round.  Trade or FA, and so on.  I colored the new players in Red. 

LWR   Boutte, Kayshon 23/6
RWR   Bourne, Kendrick U/SF
SWR   Douglas, DeMario 23/6
LT   Lowe, Vederian T/Min
LG   Robinson, Layden 24/4
C   Strange, Cole 22/1
RG   Onwenu, Mike 20/6
RT   MOSES, MORGAN U/NYJ
TE   HENRY, HUNTER U/LAC
QB   Maye, Drake 24/1
RB   Stevenson, Rhamondre 21/4

On defense, there are 5 projected starters that are new to the team.

DE   Williams, Milton U/Phi
NT   Tonga, Khyiris U/Arz
DT   Barmore, Christian 21/2
LOLB   Landry III, Harold CC/Ten
LILB   Bentley, Ja'Whaun 18/5
RILB   Spillane, Robert U/LV
ROLB Jennings, Anfernee 20/3
LCB   Davis III, Carlton U/Det
SS   Dugger, Kyle 20/2
FS   Peppers, Jabrill U/NYG
RCB   Gonzalez, Christian 23/1

I also wanted to consider those players who missed a substantial part of last season due to injury (or personal reasons), color Green.  It is pretty much an entirely new defense  when you consider both new acquisitions and back from injury players.  8 of 11 new or back from injury.  And if Christian Elliss becomes a starter over Jennings (a real possibility), that would be 9 of 11.  Talk about an overhaul!

Not much change on offense though.  Adding Cole Strange and Morgan Moses to the line is a positive, and upgrade.  Hopefully there will be another OL and maybe a WR from the draft, but the offense overall is pretty much the same, at least as far as the starters.  I still think there is a good chance that Sow would beat out Robinson for RG.  Sow would be a bit of a bounce back category player if that happens.  Duggar may be a bit of a bounce back player too.  He did not look 100% to me until the end of the season.

Hard to not be happy with the defensive improvements, but that's a kinda sad group of WRs?some talent, sure, but no one who can consistently get open.

[Neurotic Guy]

Two statements of the obvious -  the off-season isn?t over, and, the Pats look better (which realistically was the goal).  Better defense, better coaching staff. Pre-draft.

[Donoghus]

Gonna be very interesting if Hunter is sitting there available at #4.

[Vermont Green]

Two statements of the obvious -  the off-season isn?t over, and, the Pats look better (which realistically was the goal).  Better defense, better coaching staff. Pre-draft.

I agree with this, both parts.  The later, the better coaching part, seems to get talked about less.  More than just coaching, the whole organization seems to have more of a plan.  It seemed to me that Wolf is capable, but better when he is given guidance, which it seems that Vrabel has taken more of a lead role.  He has the experience and credibility.  Plus he brought in one of "his guys" to be in the front office (Ryan Cowden).  Everything just seems more strategic and purposeful this off-season.  External FAs seem to see this also.

And I also totally agree that this off season is not over and no one should have expected that all the problems would be solved or holes filled in one off season anyway.  At this point, I feel like we are one vet LT or maybe a surprise rookie LT away from contending for the playoffs.  I feel that behind an OL that is at least solid, Maye and Hunter and Stevenson, and the current WRs are good enough be in the hunt.  And I still feel that there is a chance we end up drafting Travis Hunter.

As it stands, WR will be our least improved position group.  Again, not everything was going to get fixed in one off season.  I am OK with fixing the D and the OL first.  I feel it is highly likely that we draft a WR in the 1st or 2nd round.  Even that probably does not impact things much this first season.  Overall, we have 4 picks in the first 77 picks.  These top 4 picks are as good as any other team.  Those picks in particular, we need to make them count.

My last thought, Marcus Jones.  I thought he was pretty bad as a CB last season.  I hope Carlton takes all or most of his CB snaps.  I don't even want to see Marcus out there as the Nickelback, at least not on any regular basis.  But Marcus Jones may be best as a gadget play receiver on offense.  I hope they find ways to use him this season.

[Vermont Green]

Gonna be very interesting if Hunter is sitting there available at #4.

I still feel that this is the most likely outcome.  But if not, Sanders is likely available and may help make the pick tradeable.  It is surprising though how Sanders is dropping, at least that is the media buzz.  We'll see.

[Donoghus]

Gonna be very interesting if Hunter is sitting there available at #4.

I still feel that this is the most likely outcome.  But if not, Sanders is likely available and may help make the pick tradeable.  It is surprising though how Sanders is dropping, at least that is the media buzz.  We'll see.

I'm just glad the Pats have Maye.  (Hot take alert) Someone is going to make a franchise crippling move with Sanders.

[Vermont Green]

Draft picks, top 4 per team:

Titans     1   35   103   120
Browns   2   33     67    94
Giants     3   34    65    99
Patriots   4   38    69    77
Jaguars   5   36    70    88
Raiders   6   37    68   108

I know this is a little hard to read, but the Pats have 4, 38, 69, and 77.  Titans, for example, have 1 and 35, which is better than 4 and 38, but Pats have 69 and 77 which is better than 103 and 120.  Giants and Browns both have solid top 4 picks too, but the Pats are right there.  Those two Pats 3rd rounders are good picks.  Make these picks count!

As to trading pick #4, I could see the Jets (#7) or Saints (#9) potentially wanting to move up to get ahead of the Raiders for a chance at Sanders.  Based on the media talk, that is appearing less likely, but I don't see Sanders as a bust.  His college stats are not all that different than Daniels' college stats.  Any QB can be a bust.  Caleb Williams might be a bust for a #1 pick.  Sanders at #6 or #7 or #9, for a team that needs a QB, is not that bad of a pick, I don't think.  Any QB pick is a risk.

[johnnygreen]

I could be wrong, but I believe Drake Maye started and finished 10 games last season. I know the team wasn't good, but he was also part of the reason the team wasn't winning too. In those 10 games, the team was 1-9.

My point being, just because the players and coaching around him may have improved this off-season, Maye needs to show improvement too. It's one thing to look like the bright spot on a bad team, but it's entirely different being a QB that can lead a good team.

[Goldstar88]

I could be wrong, but I believe Drake Maye started and finished 10 games last season. I know the team wasn't good, but he was also part of the reason the team wasn't winning too. In those 10 games, the team was 1-9.

My point being, just because the players and coaching around him may have improved this off-season, Maye needs to show improvement too. It's one thing to look like the bright spot on a bad team, but it's entirely different being a QB that can lead a good team.

Physically, he?s very gifted. Has it all. Will be interesting to see if his decision making improves year two, though. I think Josh will help him quite a bit. Drakes IQ will determine whether he has success or not in the league.