Patriots 2026-27 Off Season

[Vermont Green]

Started a new thread for the off season, rather than continuing the 2025-25 Season thread.

Some good signings so far:

Kevin Byard
Romeo Doubs
Alijah Vera-Tucker
Dre'Mont Jones

Seems like in most people's mind, it comes down to AJ Brown or bust.

[Neurotic Guy]

Started a new thread for the off season, rather than continuing the 2025-25 Season thread.

Some good signings so far:

Kevin Byard
Romeo Doubs
Alijah Vera-Tucker
Dre'Mont Jones

Seems like in most people's mind, it comes down to AJ Brown or bust.

Getting Brown makes the off-season (prior to draft) a success.  The focus on the run game feels good to me with the addition of the fullback and the run-blocking TE.  That helps Maye but not as much as having a great o-line and a true #1 receiver.  Hope they can get a good lineman in the draft and a promising edge rusher.  A pass-catching TE in the draft is probably one of the picks.

Haven?t heard anything about Antonio Gibson since the injury.  Curious if he?s still under contract or if he?ll be able to fully recover.

[A Future of Stevens]

I like the moves this off season because it allows them to go BPA in the draft. We upgraded safety, and the O line. We brought in a very good wr to attempt and fill the hole from Diggs.

Say we didn't grab AVT, we would almost be FORCED to take a guard at 31. They can just keep developing and stacking talent.

[Roy H.]

2. The Patriots' injury hedge on Alijah Vera-Tucker: The oft-injured Vera-Tucker has missed 25 games in his four-year career, so the Patriots structured his contract with a heavy emphasis on per-game roster bonuses -- $250,000 per game for each of the three years of his contract. That adds up to a whopping $4.25 million per year in per-game roster bonuses if he dresses for all 17 games (which he never has). The $4.25 million in 2026 is described as "fully guaranteed" at signing, which means if they were to cut him, the Patriots would have to pay him that amount. But if he's on the team, he will actually have to be on the active roster for all 17 games to earn the full amount.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

2. The Patriots' injury hedge on Alijah Vera-Tucker: The oft-injured Vera-Tucker has missed 25 games in his four-year career, so the Patriots structured his contract with a heavy emphasis on per-game roster bonuses -- $250,000 per game for each of the three years of his contract. That adds up to a whopping $4.25 million per year in per-game roster bonuses if he dresses for all 17 games (which he never has). The $4.25 million in 2026 is described as "fully guaranteed" at signing, which means if they were to cut him, the Patriots would have to pay him that amount. But if he's on the team, he will actually have to be on the active roster for all 17 games to earn the full amount.

Yeah, I don't buy that they improved the O-line unless this guy plays a significant number of games. They need more reinforcements than just him.

[SparzWizard]

Idk about you, but the Patriots' secondary looks LETHAL

Christian Gonzales
Craig Woodson
Marcus Jones
Carlton Davis III
Kevin Byard III

NO FLY ZONE! Expecting lots of ball swatting and ball hawking!

[Jiri Welsch]

Idk about you, but the Patriots' secondary looks LETHAL

Christian Gonzales
Craig Woodson
Marcus Jones
Carlton Davis III
Kevin Byard III

NO FLY ZONE! Expecting lots of ball swatting and ball hawking!

They should just draft tons of (defensive and offensive) linemen and a TE. Happy with this offseason!

[Phantom255x]

I didn't want to overpay for Pierce or AJ Brown. But at this stage, if the Pats can add AJ Brown for a 2nd round pick + future 3rd/4th, I think I'd pounce. And reportedly, the Eagles could do it after June 1 (since after that date, the Eagles' cap hit on Brown goes down a lot). Beefing up the O-Line and adding AJ Brown to go along with our offseason signings would make us a real contender in the AFC even with how difficult the schedule is. The defense was already great and added Jones + Byard. I'd like to think they'll also add to the O-Line, a LB/pass rusher and young developmental TE through the draft.

[SparzWizard]

I didn't want to overpay for Pierce or AJ Brown. But at this stage, if the Pats can add AJ Brown for a 2nd round pick + future 3rd/4th, I think I'd pounce. And reportedly, the Eagles could do it after June 1 (since after that date, the Eagles' cap hit on Brown goes down a lot). Beefing up the O-Line and adding AJ Brown to go along with our offseason signings would make us a real contender in the AFC even with how difficult the schedule is. The defense was already great and added Jones + Byard. I'd like to think they'll also add to the O-Line, a LB/pass rusher and young developmental TE through the draft.

Thing is, there might be other teams who could overpay for Brown. If the Pats really want him then they'll have to open some treasure chest.

[Vermont Green]

I understand there is a big cap hit to PHI if they trade him before June 1. If that is true, it is no surprise they are slow playing this.

[Phantom255x]

The two biggest needs for the Patriots are an edge rusher and WR1. Even if they add one guy of those two, I'd be happy. But they can't solely rely on the draft for either.

They can add a young, developmental TE and some depth for the O-Line + D-Line in the draft, but they still need another big move somewhere.

[Goldstar88]

At this point in time, is the Patriots roster: better, worse or about the same as last years?

[Vermont Green]

Wanted to work through this by position group, to see where things look better or not.

Wide Receiver:
Net: Wash

Diggs out, Doubs in.  Probably a wash.  I don't think this group was all that bad last season.  They had a very good offense, albeit against a weak schedule, but if the OL was better, the passing stats would have been better yet.  Of course AJ Brown is still out there.  That will probably resolve itself after June 1.

Tight Ends:
Net:  Slightly Worse

Hooper out, Julian Hill in.  Probably a little downgrade.  I expect this to be a target early/middle in the draft.

Offensive Line:
Net:  Injury Dependent, hopefully better

Bradbury and Lowe out, Alijah Vera-Tucker in.  Injury is the big IF here.  I call this one TBD, could go either way.  I do expect both Campbell and Wilson to be better in their second seasons.  Also likely a target in the early draft.  Even if AVT is injured, and Brown or Wallace have to play (or a rookie), it may not be the end of the world.

Defensive Front 7:
Net:  Wash, maybe lightly worse

I am never sure who is a lineman or linebacker these days but Tonga is out and I am not sure there is a corresponding interior DL to replace him.  Dre'Mont Jones is good, but more of an edge/contain DE type (which is a need also).  Then Jennings, Tavai, and Chaisson are all out, all smaller LB types.  Jesse Luketa and KJ Britt seem to be the replacements.  Seems like there are still some needs here, probably addressed in the draft.  Williams and Barmore will still anchor this group.

Defensive Backs:
Net:  Better

Jaylinn Hawkins and Alex Austin are out but Kevin Byard and Mike Brown are in.  This feels like a positive for the group overall.  Overall, this group should be very good anchored by Gonzalez and Davis.

RB/QB:
Net:  Wash

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The offseason is not over, so more things could transpire, and then there is the draft.  Rookies are only going to do so much but there could be some helpful depth picked up in the draft.  Picks could still be traded for players also.  For the draft, I expect the following to be the priority:

Outside LB/Edge
Tight End
Offensive Line
Defensive Line

It would be nice to get a starter at OLB/Edge, not sure how realistic that is.  Just getting solid depth at the other positions would be fine.  You won't fill all your needs in a given draft.  There are enough needs that there should be flexibility to balance taking the best available vs. picking for need.

[Donoghus]

The two biggest needs for the Patriots are an edge rusher and WR1. Even if they add one guy of those two, I'd be happy. But they can't solely rely on the draft for either.

They can add a young, developmental TE and some depth for the O-Line + D-Line in the draft, but they still need another big move somewhere.

I still feel like OL is a pretty significant need. Moreso than WR1.

[SparzWizard]

Classless move by the Patriots organization for allowing Romeo Doubs to wear the No. 87 jersey, which it should have been retired by the GOAT tight-end, Rob Gronkowski.