What To Expect From Patriots As Important Offseason Window Opens

Don’t expect the New England Patriots to use their franchise tag this offseason.

Have you heard that before? You probably have. But New England does not have any realistic or deserving candidates for it once again.

The Patriots, who used their transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger last offseason before agreeing to a long-term deal, have a below-average list of impending free agents. Even their best free agents — cornerback Jonathan Jones, tight end Austin Hooper, etc. — are past their primes and not deserving of the one-year payment the tag requires.

Imagine paying the 31-year-old Jones some $20.4 million in 2025. Jones just played on a two-year deal worth less than that. Or the 30-year-old Hooper approximately $14.2 million on the one-year deal? Hooper played on a one-year, $3.125 million deal last season.

Instead, head coach Mike Vrabel and the Patriots could try to retain those players on different deals. They could prove to be one-year pacts, sure. But they won’t come with the same price tag.

The NFL’s franchise tag window opens Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET and closes March 4. Once a team utilizes its tag, the player can either play on that one-year deal or sign a multi-year extension before July 15.