Patriots Offseason Preview: Everything Team Must Address In 2026
The New England Patriots have some work to do…
I’ll be the first to admit that they don’t have nearly as much as we all initially anticipated, but difficult decisions will need to be made in order to help the organization finally get back to the mountain top — especially since it came up just one game short to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
It’ll be interesting to see how things unfold, as the offseason continuously gives us plenty to talk about as we collectively navigate free agency, the draft, trade markets and everything else that brings about rumors and innuendo — but would you have it any other way?
No, we didn’t think so.
NESN will put together preview stories surrounding all of the offseason’s tentpole events — while discussing individual moves that could be made, general strategy ideas, how individual players could be impacted and what the final result might look like.
Key Dates
Feb. 17: Franchise/Transition Tag Window Opens
Feb. 23 – March 2: NFL Scouting Combine
March 3: Franchise/Transition Tag Window Closes
March 9: Legal Tampering Window Opens
March 11: New League Year Begins/Free Agency Opens
March 29- April 1: Annual League Meeting
April 23-25: 2026 NFL Draft
New England Patriots
The Patriots’ primary focus will be figuring out which internal free agents will remain, which external free agents should be targeted, how they can leverage their recent success with regards to attracting talent, whether or not it makes sense to make a splash move and filling in whatever gaps are left with the 2026 NFL Draft — and whatever else pops up during that time frame.
Unrestricted Free Agents
EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson
S Jaylinn Hawkins
TE Austin Hooper
RB D’Ernest Johnson
OT Vederian Lowe
OT Thayer Munford
DL Khyiris Tonga
Restricted Free Agents
CB Alex Austin
QB Tommy DeVito
OT Yasir Durant
LB Jack Gibbens
DL Jaquelin Roy
Exclusive Rights Free Agent
DL Isaiah Iton
RB Deneric Prince
TE Jack Westover
2026 NFL Draft
Round: 1 Pick: 31
Round: 2 Pick: 63
Round: 3 Pick: 95
Round: 4 Pick: 125
Round: 4 Pick: 131
Round: 5 Pick: 169
Round: 6 Pick: 190
Round: 6 Pick: 201
Round: 6 Pick: 208
Round: 6 Pick: 211
Round: 7 Pick: 247
Primary Needs
OL
TE
LB
EDGE
NESN Schedule
NESN will be publishing stories throughout the next several months previewing anything and everything relating to the offseason — and here’s a sneak peak of what that will look like:
Feb. 16: Patriots Offseason Preview
Feb. 17: K’Lavon Chaisson (Free Agency Preview)
Feb. 18: Jaylinn Hawkins (Free Agency Preview)
Feb. 19: Austin Hooper (Free Agency Preview)
Feb. 20: Khyiris Tonga (Free Agency Preview)
Feb. 23: Vederian Lowe (Free Agency Preview)
Feb. 24: Thayer Munford (Free Agency Preview)
Feb. 25: D’Ernest Johnson (Free Agency Preview)
Feb. 26: Patriots Could Relinquish Rights To Internal Free Agents
Feb. 27: Patriots Have Simple Choice To Make With Entering Free Agency
March 2: Patriots’ Priority Should Be Inking These Players To Offseason Extensions
March 3: Patriots Should Use Free Agency To Address These Needs
March 4: Patriots Who Could Be Potential Cap Casualties
March 5: Players Patriots Could Consider Trading This Offseason
March 6: Predicting Players Who Will Sign With Patriots In Free Agency
If you keep this page bookmarked, you can come back to find links to our offseason analysis and preview stories!