Unlike the last two years, the New England Patriots are entering 2026 with some stability. Mike Vrabel is back as head coach after leading his team to a 14-3 record and Super Bowl berth in his first season, and together with a front office led by executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf is set to continue remodeling the team.
They have some resources at their disposal to do so, including around $41 million in salary cap space. While ranked in the top 10 in the NFL at the moment and with only 14 players set to enter the market, a 2025-like spending spree will not be in the cards for the organization this spring.
Nonetheless, New England is expected to be quite busy over the coming weeks.
The action is set to pick up on Monday, March 9; at noon that day, the so-called legal tampering period will open. Two days later, on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, free agency as well as the 2026 NFL league year and trading period will officially begin.
As is the case every year, our Patriots Free Agency Tracker will help you stay atop the flurry of news and rumors surrounding the team and the NFL as a whole. Please make sure to bookmark and regularly re-visit, and to check out our up-to-date Patriots roster.
Patriots free agents 2026
QB Tommy DeVito (RFA): Re-signed (2 years, $4.4M) | Analysis | Grades | Contract | Profile
RB Deneric Prince (ERFA): Not tendered | Profile
FB Jack Westover (ERFA): Tendered (1 year, $1.075M) | Analysis | Profile
TE Austin Hooper (UFA): Signed by Falcons (1 year, $3.25M) | Analysis | Profile
OT Vederian Lowe (UFA): Signed by 49ers (2 years, $12M max) | Analysis | Profile
OT Thayer Munford Jr. (UFA): Profile
OT Yasir Durant (RFA): Not tendered | Analysis | Profile
DT Khyiris Tonga (UFA): Signed by Chiefs (3 years, $21M) | Analysis | Profile
DT Jaquelin Roy (RFA): Not tendered | Profile
DT Isaiah Iton (ERFA): Not tendered | Analysis | Profile
ED K’Lavon Chaisson (UFA): Signed by Commanders (1 year, $12M max) | Analysis | Profile
LB Jack Gibbens (RFA): Not tendered | Profile
CB Alex Austin (RFA): Not tendered | Analysis | Profile
S Jaylinn Hawkins (UFA): Signed by Ravens (2 years, $10M) | Analysis | Profile | Analysis
Patriots free agency signings
QB Tommy DeVito (RFA): Re-signed (2 years, $4.4M) | Analysis | Grades | Contract | Profile
ED Jesse Luketa: Signed (1 year, $1.145M) | Analysis | Grades | Contract
FB Jack Westover (ERFA): Tendered (1 year, $1.075M) | Analysis | Profile
ED Dre’Mont Jones: Signed (3 years, $36.5M) | Analysis | Grades | Contract
FB Reggie Gilliam: Signed (3 years, $10.8M) | Analysis | Grades
G Alijah Vera-Tucker: Signed (3 years, $42M) | Analysis | Grades | Contract
WR Romeo Doubs: Signed (4 years, $68M) | Analysis | Grades | Profile
LB K.J. Britt: Signed (1 year) | Analysis | Grades
S Kevin Byard: Signed (1 year, $9M) | Analysis | Grades
TE Julian Hill: Signed
S Mike Brown: Signed
Patriots free agency departures
RB Antonio Gibson: Released | Analysis
WR Stefon Diggs: Released | Analysis | Replacements
C Garrett Bradbury: Traded to Bears | Analysis | Grades
LB Jahlani Tavai: Released | Analysis
TE Austin Hooper (UFA): Signed by Falcons (1 year, $3.25M) | Analysis
DT Khyiris Tonga (UFA): Signed by Chiefs (3 years, $21M) | Analysis
OT Vederian Lowe (UFA): Signed by 49ers (2 years, $9.25M) | Analysis
ED K’Lavon Chaisson (UFA): Signed by Commanders (1 year, $12M max) | Analysis
ED Anfernee Jennings: Released | Analysis
S Jaylinn Hawkins (UFA): Signed by Ravens (2 years, $10M) | Analysis
CB Alex Austin (RFA): Signed by Dolphins (1 year)
Patriots free agency news and rumors tracker
Patriots departure: Alex Austin, who was not tendered by the team as a restricted free agent, has signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins. | Source
Patriots signing: Safety Mike Brown is joining the Patriots. | Source
Patriots signing: Tight end Julian Hill is joining the Patriots. | Source
Patriots decision: Running back Deneric Prince and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy were not tendered as restricted free agents. | Source
Patriots decision: New England has opted against tendering restricted free agent linebacker Jack Gibbens. | Source
Tight end Chig Okonkwo, a former Tennessee Titan considered a possible target for the Patriots, is signing with the Commanders on a three-year deal worth a maximum of $30 million. | Source
Patriots departure: Jaylinn Hawkins, a Patriots starting safety in 2025, is leaving the team for a two-year deal with the Ravens. | Source
Patriots signing: New England is signing safety Kevin Byard on a one-year, $9 million deal. | Source
Patriots signing: Linebacker K.J. Britt is joining the Patriots on a one-year deal. Britt projects to have an impact on special teams. | Source
The Patriots are working on a deal with Jaylinn Hawkins and might reach an agreement as early as today. | Source
Patriots release: Anfernee Jennings will be let go by the Patriots today. | Source
Patriots departure: K’Lavon Chaisson is headed to Washington on a one-year, $12 million deal. | Source
The Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade, reportedly due to a failed physical. | Source
The Jaguars have no interest in trading wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. | Source
Patriots signing: Wide receiver Romeo Doubs is coming to New England on a four-year, $70 million contract. | Source
Alijah Vera-Tucker’s deal with the Patriots is worth $42 million with a maximum of $48 million. | Source
Patriots signing: Left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is coming to New England on a three-year deal. | Source
Names linked to the Patriots at wide receiver include Romeo Doubs, Chris Olave and Christian Kirk as well as A.J. Brown. | Source
Isaac Seumalo, one of the top left guards on the market, is joining the Cardinals at $31.5 million over three years. | Source
The Jaguars are “entertaining offers” for wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. | Source
Patriots departure: Backup left tackle Vederian Lowe is joining the 49ers on a two-year deal at a maximum value of $12 million. | Source
A Patriots deal with WR Romeo Doubs is considered unlikely at this point in time. | Source
Charlie Kolar, who was considered a possible Patriots target at tight end, is signing with the Chargers. | Source
The Patriots continue talking with Jaylinn Hawkins about a potential return. | Source
Patriots departure: After a career season in New England, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with the Chiefs. | Source
Patriots signing: Fullback Reggie Gilliam is joining the team on a three-year, $12 million contract. | Source
Patriots departure: Tight end Austin Hooper is leaving the Patriots after two seasons. He has signed a one-year deal to return to the Falcons, where he started his NFL career in 2016. | Source
Potential Patriots target Isaiah Likely is headed to the Giants on a three-year, $40 million deal. | Source
Patriots signing: Defensive lineman Dre’MontJones is coming to the Patriots on a three-year, $39 million contract.| Source
Wide receiver Alec Pierce is re-signing with the Colts on a four-year, $116 million contract. | Source
Patriots decision: Fullback Jack Westover received tge exclusive rights tender. | Source
Patriots release: Jahlani Tavai, who has been with the team since 2021, has been released. | Source
The Patriots, Eagles and Commanders are expected to be in on Jonathan Greenard. | Source
The Patriots are on A.J. Brown’s “wish list” should he be traded. | Source
The Patriots are being joined by the Titans, Raiders and “several others” in their pursuit of Colts WR Alec Pierce. | Source
Trading for Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard “will likely involve a Day 2 pick.” | Source
The Dolphins are cutting starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as a post-June 1 release. | Source
Trent McDuffie has signed a four-year, $124 million with the Rams, setting the floor for a Christian Gonzalez extension. | Source
The Patriots are among several teams “closely watching” wide receiver Romeo Doubs’ market. | Source
Wide receiver Alec Pierce is expected to command upwards of $27 million per year should he make it to the open market.| Source
The Patriots are not willing to give up a first-round draft pick for A.J. Brown, but “an adjustment to a multi-asset asking price was floated.” | Source
Maxx Crosby has been traded from the Raiders to the Ravens for first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027. | Source
Patriots trade: Garrett Bradbury, who started all 21 games for the Patriots in 2025, is being traded to the Bears. The Patriots are getting a 2027 fifth-round draft pick back in return. | Source
Patriots decision: Defensive tackle Isaiah Iton, an exclusive rights free agent, is not getting tendered by the Patriots. He is off to the open market. | Source
A Maxx Crosby trade is “not imminent right now.” | Source
Patriots signing: The Patriots have re-signed quarterback Tommy DeVito to a two-year, $7.4 million extension that includes $2 million in guarantees. | Source
The Eagles are “holding firm” on their asking price for A.J. Brown. Meanwhile, the Chargers are also “keeping tabs” on the situation. | Source
The Patriots and Ravens are considered the “most likely potential partners” for a trade with the Eagles for A.J. Brown. | Source
The Patriots are expected to make a “big push” for free agent wide receiver Alec Pierce. | Source
Patriots signing: The Patriots are signing free agent edge Jesse Luketa to a one-year deal. | Source
The first wide receiver shoe has dropped: the Bills are trading a second-round pick to Chicago for D.J. Moore and a fifth-rounder. | Source
The Patriots recently hosted former first-round draft pick Jedrick Wills on a free agent visit. | Source
Patriots decision: Offensive tackle Yasir Durant won’t be tendered as a restricted free agent. | Source
Patriots decision: Cornerback Alex Austin will not be tendered as a restricted free agent. | Source
New England “could be a landing spot” for Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore in a trade. | Source
The Patriots have shown interest in some big-name wide receivers, including Colts free agent Alec Pierce. | Source
Patriots release: New England will reportedly let wide receiver Stefon Diggs go next week. | Source
The Raiders are looking for two first-round picks and a player for Pro Bowl edge Maxx Crosby. | Source
The Patriots did not use the franchise tag on any of their free agents. | Source
The Vikings are open to trading Pro Bowl edge Jonathan Greenard. | Source
The Patriots believe the asking price for Eagles wide receiver and potential trade target A.J. Brown is “unserious.” | Source
The NFL has set its salary cap for the 2026 season at $301.2 million. The Patriots are $41.3 million under that number, ranking in the top 10. | Source
New England came close to extending Khyiris Tonga during the season, but talks fell apart. | Source
The Patriots are apparently willing to take a patient approach with Jaylinn Hawkins. | Source
Potential Patriots free agency target Kyle Pitts is getting the franchise tag from the Falcons. | Source
Patriots release: Running back Antonio Gibson has been released after two seasons with the team. | Source
Jaylinn Hawkins hopes to “remain home” in free agency. | Source