2025 saw a massive turnaround for the New England Patriots. They made major changes after a 4-13 record in the 2024 season, including firing head coach Jerod Mayo and hiring former Titans HC Mike Vrabel.
The former Patriots linebacker delivered success, finishing the regular season with a 13-4 record and leading the team to a Super Bowl, where they lost to the Seattle Seahawks.
With the team coming close to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, one or two moves in 2026 free agency could push the Patriots over the edge.
We’ll analyze how the New England Patriots free agency period can better address their positional needs and review the key departures they'll need to replace.
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2026 New England Patriots Free Agency: Departures
The Patriots have a few players from their Super Bowl run who are no longer with the team. Here are four key departures for New England heading into the 2026 offseason.
WR Stefon Diggs
The Patriots signed Diggs to a three-year, $63.5 million contract during the 2025 offseason, hoping to give QB Drake Maye a top-tier wide receiver. However, according to ESPN, the Patriots will release the WR this week.
The former fifth-round pick had a solid season, leading the team with 1,013 receiving yards, which is also 16th in the league. This move was likely because of Diggs' salary cap charge, which was set to increase from $10.5 million in 2025 to $26.5 million 2026.
RB Antonio Gibson
Gibson was signed in the 2024 offseason to be a second option behind RB Rhamondre Stevenson. With the Patriots picking Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson in the 2025 draft, Gibson’s role was likely to diminish. An ACL tear cut his 2025 season short, playing only four games.
LB K’Lavon Chaisson
One of the Patriots' weaknesses last season was their pass rush, but Chaisson was one of their few bright spots.
It was a stellar year for the 2020 first-round pick, as he recorded a career-high 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. The free agent could be on the Patriots’ agenda to bring back.
S Jaylinn Hawkins
Hawkins is another defensive star the Patriots could lose to free agency. He was a pivotal piece of the secondary, finishing with a team-high 4 interceptions and 6 passes defended. The good news is that Hawkins wants to return, so there’s optimism that he could be back with the team.
The Best 2026 NFL Free Agency Targets for Patriots
The Patriots are close to being a championship-caliber team after their Super Bowl appearance. However, there are a few positions they will need to address in the offseason.
These are the top three positions the Patriots need to address:
- Wide Receiver
- Edge Rusher
- Center
Here are the players New England could target to fill those needs.
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WR A.J. Brown (Trade)
Getting Brown to the Patriots would require a trade, but it’s a move New England could consider.
With the release of Diggs, the Patriots need a top receiver for Maye, and Brown fits that profile perfectly. The Eagles’ wide receiver is one of the top players at his position in recent years, with 3 Pro Bowls and at least 1,000 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in six of his seven seasons.
The Patriots have 11 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft; their own in each round, an extra pick in the fourth round, and three additional in the sixth. With those extra selections, they could put together a package with the Eagles to bring Brown to Foxborough.
Although the asking price is high, his is a crucial position for the Patriots. Providing the young Maye, who finished as a runner-up in the NFL MVP race, with a top-tier pass-catching option could help him develop into an elite quarterback for years.
DE Trey Hendrickson
The Pats could make a splash in the free agent market and address their need for a pass rusher. New England was one of the worst in the NFL at getting to the quarterback, ranking 22nd in sacks (35) and 24th in pressure percentage (20.3%).
The former Bengals defensive end could be the most sought-after player at his position during this free agency. Although 2025 wasn’t a great year, with 7.5 sacks and only seven games played, he recorded 17.5 sacks during 2023 and 24 seasons, and won the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024.
According to Sportstrac, the Patriots have $39.9 million in cap space, which is much lower than the average yearly pay for some top players at that position, such as Packers DE Micah Parsons ($46.5 million), Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson ($45 million), and Steelers DE T.J. Watt ($41 million).
It would take some work to free up cap space, but if the Pats want to make an impact on their defensive front, Hendrickson is their best choice.
The Patriots did agree to terms with former Ravens EDGE Dre'Mont Jones on Monday, who created 51 QB pressures in 2025, with a PFF pass-rush grade of 69.6 (40th among edge rushers). Jones agreed to a three-year, $36.5 million deal with the Patriots, which should help fill this need.
That likely will take them out of the running for Hendrickson.
Make NFL Futures Picks on PrizePicks
The NFL offseason can be just as exciting as the season itself. Big stars changing teams in free agency, blockbuster trades, and of course, the NFL Draft.
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Keep it here with the Playbook for continued NFL picks, predictions, futures, and more as the offseason moves along.
