NFL 2026 Offseason

[Phantom255x]

My wish list:

1. Sign WR Mike Evans
2. Sign TE Likely OR Njoku OR Otton (my preference here is Likely)
3. Add a young LB who has coverage ability (idk names off top of my head)
4. Add a veteran LG, while Wilson moves to Center
5. Add another young pass rusher in this LOADED draft

A few of these like LB or pass rusher could be someone they draft in the 1st or 2nd round. It's a deep draft for linebackers and pass rushers too. I personally don't want to overpay and/or give up too much for AJ Brown or Alec Pierce, the latter of whom I think is overrated to begin with. They need a tight end, and Likely is a MA native that's young and could be a building block. If not, Njoku could give them that balanced, blocking version of a tight end to help the run game or protection too.

Spillane was great, but they definitely still need to add someone alongside him and ideally a young guy who can show some coverage abilities. The Pats don't have that kind of linebacker, while other contending teams including the recent SB champs (Seattle) did and those guys are valuable.

And yeah, if Campbell stays at LT, and Wilson moves to LG, it makes a ton of sense to add a veteran left guard. Go after any of the Browns' guys, their entire O-Line is basically available lol.

[Vermont Green]

I believe/hope that OL depth will be the priority.  Not as sexy as #1 receivers, but in my mind, more important.  Haven't we as Patriots fans seen for 20 or 25 years that if you have a solid OL and a top QB, that you don't need big contract receivers?  You need 3 or 4 capable receivers (plus good TEs).  How good the group is is more important than how good the #1 is.  Now if you can have a good capable group and a top receiver too, all the better, but that is not where I would spend the money ($35M-$40M for one top receiver).

Lot of talk about AJ Brown.  He is making about $23M which is not bad for a top receiver.  He will be 29 years old for the start of the 2026-27 season.  Under contract for 4 more seasons, if I am reading things right (NFL contract are so convoluted).  Trading for AJ Brown would be great, assuming they are not asking for the whole farm.  I am guessing it will take a lot, and I don't expect it to happen.

As to the OL, seeing that they traded Bradbury tells me they have something lined up.  Maybe it is a vet LG and moving Wilson to C, as was suggested above.  That would be great.  I am fine with Campbell at LT for next season.  He was good pre-injury, post-injury not so much.  Assuming he comes back next season at 100%, a season under his belt, I think he will be fine.  Maye was sacked 47 times last season, 4th most in the league.  That is a bigger issue than a #1 receiver and has to be fixed.

[Goldstar88]

I believe/hope that OL depth will be the priority.  Not as sexy as #1 receivers, but in my mind, more important.  Haven't we as Patriots fans seen for 20 or 25 years that if you have a solid OL and a top QB, that you don't need big contract receivers?  You need 3 or 4 capable receivers (plus good TEs).  How good the group is is more important than how good the #1 is.  Now if you can have a good capable group and a top receiver too, all the better, but that is not where I would spend the money ($35M-$40M for one top receiver).

Lot of talk about AJ Brown.  He is making about $23M which is not bad for a top receiver.  He will be 29 years old for the start of the 2026-27 season.  Under contract for 4 more seasons, if I am reading things right (NFL contract are so convoluted).  Trading for AJ Brown would be great, assuming they are not asking for the whole farm.  I am guessing it will take a lot, and I don't expect it to happen.

As to the OL, seeing that they traded Bradbury tells me they have something lined up.  Maybe it is a vet LG and moving Wilson to C, as was suggested above.  That would be great.  I am fine with Campbell at LT for next season.  He was good pre-injury, post-injury not so much.  Assuming he comes back next season at 100%, a season under his belt, I think he will be fine.  Maye was sacked 47 times last season, 4th most in the league.  That is a bigger issue than a #1 receiver and has to be fixed.

Sure, if Tom Brady is your QB. Seattle just won the SB and they have the best WR in the league. JSN was a big part of their success last season. Pats need better WRs.

[Vermont Green]

I believe/hope that OL depth will be the priority.  Not as sexy as #1 receivers, but in my mind, more important.  Haven't we as Patriots fans seen for 20 or 25 years that if you have a solid OL and a top QB, that you don't need big contract receivers?  You need 3 or 4 capable receivers (plus good TEs).  How good the group is is more important than how good the #1 is.  Now if you can have a good capable group and a top receiver too, all the better, but that is not where I would spend the money ($35M-$40M for one top receiver).

Lot of talk about AJ Brown.  He is making about $23M which is not bad for a top receiver.  He will be 29 years old for the start of the 2026-27 season.  Under contract for 4 more seasons, if I am reading things right (NFL contract are so convoluted).  Trading for AJ Brown would be great, assuming they are not asking for the whole farm.  I am guessing it will take a lot, and I don't expect it to happen.

As to the OL, seeing that they traded Bradbury tells me they have something lined up.  Maybe it is a vet LG and moving Wilson to C, as was suggested above.  That would be great.  I am fine with Campbell at LT for next season.  He was good pre-injury, post-injury not so much.  Assuming he comes back next season at 100%, a season under his belt, I think he will be fine.  Maye was sacked 47 times last season, 4th most in the league.  That is a bigger issue than a #1 receiver and has to be fixed.

Sure, if Tom Brady is your QB. Seattle just won the SB and they have the best WR in the league. JSN was a big part of their success last season. Pats need better WRs.

Sure, football is about being good at all aspects, not having weakness.  Sam Darnell was sacked 27 times (477 attempts), Maye 47 times (492 attempts).  That is a big difference.

Seattle is actually a perfect example of what I am advocating for.  They traded their big money diva receiver to PIT (DK Metcalf signed/extended with PIT for $35M, after being traded for a 2nd, 6th, and 7th) and now their top paid receiver is Kupp at $17.5M.  Their QB is no Tom Brady, probably not even a Drake Maye.  But they won the Superbowl.  They drafted Jaxon Smith-Njigba at #20.  Sometimes you get lucky in the draft.

[Goldstar88]

I believe/hope that OL depth will be the priority.  Not as sexy as #1 receivers, but in my mind, more important.  Haven't we as Patriots fans seen for 20 or 25 years that if you have a solid OL and a top QB, that you don't need big contract receivers?  You need 3 or 4 capable receivers (plus good TEs).  How good the group is is more important than how good the #1 is.  Now if you can have a good capable group and a top receiver too, all the better, but that is not where I would spend the money ($35M-$40M for one top receiver).

Lot of talk about AJ Brown.  He is making about $23M which is not bad for a top receiver.  He will be 29 years old for the start of the 2026-27 season.  Under contract for 4 more seasons, if I am reading things right (NFL contract are so convoluted).  Trading for AJ Brown would be great, assuming they are not asking for the whole farm.  I am guessing it will take a lot, and I don't expect it to happen.

As to the OL, seeing that they traded Bradbury tells me they have something lined up.  Maybe it is a vet LG and moving Wilson to C, as was suggested above.  That would be great.  I am fine with Campbell at LT for next season.  He was good pre-injury, post-injury not so much.  Assuming he comes back next season at 100%, a season under his belt, I think he will be fine.  Maye was sacked 47 times last season, 4th most in the league.  That is a bigger issue than a #1 receiver and has to be fixed.

Sure, if Tom Brady is your QB. Seattle just won the SB and they have the best WR in the league. JSN was a big part of their success last season. Pats need better WRs.

Sure, football is about being good at all aspects, not having weakness.  Sam Darnell was sacked 27 times (477 attempts), Maye 47 times (492 attempts).  That is a big difference.

Seattle is actually a perfect example of what I am advocating for.  They traded their big money diva receiver to PIT (DK Metcalf signed/extended with PIT for $35M, after being traded for a 2nd, 6th, and 7th) and now their top paid receiver is Kupp at $17.5M.  Their QB is no Tom Brady, probably not even a Drake Maye.  But they won the Superbowl.  They drafted Jaxon Smith-Njigba at #20.  Sometimes you get lucky in the draft.

Seattle already had JSN, which made DK expendable. I wouldn?t bet on the Pats finding a #1 WR in the draft. They haven?t done so since Deion Branch.