Examining the 2026 New England Patriots’ Upcoming Free Agents

The New England Patriots turn the page to the 2026 offseason, and have the salary cap space and draft assets to bolster an already Super Bowl-caliber roster from 2025.

With an expected $41.82 million free on another greatly expanded projected salary cap of $303.45 million, New England ranks top-12 in cap space entering the offseason (prior to any restructures or cap casualties). The Patriots also possess 11 draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

In the coming days, we’ll be diving into potential strategies for roster re-shuffling with those assets, but that begins by addressing who they already have in the building.

New England enters the 2026 offseason with just six unrestricted free agents in-house.

With an additional five restricted free agents and three exclusive rights free agents making up their class, let’s take a closer look at who they might look to retain.

Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs) are players with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. They can freely negotiate and sign with any team immediately upon the start of the new league year, without draft-choice compensation owed to their previous club.

EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson (26): K’Lavon Chaisson had a breakout year with New England in 2025 after signing a one-year, $3 million deal last offseason. The former 20th overall pick finished the season with career highs across the board, including 74 pressures, 12 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, and 44 hurries including the postseason.

Those numbers will certainly provide opportunity for Chaisson to entertain a much more robust market as an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

With the Patriots potentially looking to upgrade at the edge position, Chaisson’s return to Foxboro may be called into question. Still, the promise he showed last season also warrants a return as a contributor along an especially stout defensive line in the postseason.

The Patriots certainly don’t want to lose talent at a position of need, and Chaisson still won’t likely command top-of-the-market value at the edge. Unless New England swings for the fences on a Maxx Crosby or Myles Garrett-type trade, they have the cap space to retain Chaisson and add talent to the group around him via the draft and/or another mid-tier free agent signing for rotational depth.

S Jaylinn Hawkins (28): Like Chaisson, Jaylinn Hawkins earned a significant role in the Patriots’ defense during the 2025 season. He played 85.8% of all defensive snaps for New England, setting career marks in total snaps (1,102), tackles (86), interceptions (4), defensive stops (13), quarterback pressures (11), hurries (6), hits (3) and sacks (2), including the postseason. His four interceptions were a team-high mark during the regular season.

Hawkins became an integral part of the safety room after signing a one-year, $1.8 million deal to stay with the Patriots after first landing there in 2024. Now, he lines up alongside former Cal Golden Bears teammate rookie S Craig Woodson — and has expressed interest in returning to Foxboro:

“I want to remain here for sure,” Hawkins commented on Tuesday. “This is home, man. What we built here I feel like is special.”

The Patriots will likely look to lock up Hawkins prior to the beginning of free agency, where he’s likely to have a host of other suitors after his contributions to the team in an expanded role this season.

TE Austin Hooper (31): Tight ends Austin Hooper and Hunter Henry have worked well together in New England since the Patriots acquired the former in free agency prior to the 2024 season.

Hooper’s receiving numbers declined this season with 24 receptions on 34 targets for 287 receiving yards (12.0 yards per reception) and two touchdowns, but he was on the field for more than 46.8% of offensive snaps during the regular season as Josh McDaniels’ offense utilized their two-tight-end system at one of the NFL’s highest rates.

With New England’s lack of depth at the position behind him, it’s likely that the Patriots will look to retain the veteran if the price is right. Even with the re-signing of Hooper, New England is likely to look for ways to bolster the depth of the tight end position via free agency — or perhaps even more likely, the NFL Draft.

OT Vederian Lowe (26): Vederian Lowe faced criticism as a full-time starter in 2024, but showcased his value as a spot-starter when Will Campbell went out with a torn MCL in late November of 2025.

While the Patriots need all of the depth they can get at the tackle spot, Lowe could certainly be retained through the offseason as New England maneuvers other pieces on the board around the offensive line.

He could also receive a market for a similar role elsewhere, and we don’t have much indication that the Patriots would be willing to get into a bidding war for a player at his caliber. Our next player on this list will also compete for a roster spot at tackle, and may be a better fit for the team even if New England also spends significant draft capital at the position.

Lowe could certainly be retained, but if we’re talking about a fourth tackle… the Patriots may be better served going cheaper and younger via the draft.

OT Thayer Munford, Jr. (26): Thayer Munford, Jr., had a couple of stints with the Patriots in 2025, catching on in more of a full-time contributor role as a swing tackle and jumbo-set eligible offensive lineman beginning in Week 13.

Munford had history with McDaniels prior to his arrival in Foxboro — he was drafted by the former Las Vegas Raiders head coach in the seventh round (238th overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft.

He carved out a role in 2025, and will likely be a contract that’s easy to re-up this offseason as a swing tackle option. Of he and Lowe, I’d expect a reunion with Munford… and an additional tackle at some point in the NFL draft.

DT Khyiris Tonga (29): Khyiris Tonga was one of the great surprises of the Patriots offseason free agent class last year. He landed in Foxboro on a one-year, $2.1 million contract on his fifth team in five NFL seasons, and played a role as a key contributor on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, Tonga ate up blocks along the interior of the offensive line as an early-down run stopper. He set career marks in total snaps (415), tackles (20), defensive stops (17), quarterback pressures (17), hits (13), hurries (3), and sacks (1), including the postseason, in 2025.

Offensively, Tonga moonlighted as a jumbo fullback that specialized in short yardage. He registered 18 total snaps on offense spanning from Week 9 through the AFC Championship Game.

Regardless of the uncertainty surrounding DT Christian Barmore’s future, Tonga should be a player that the Patriots look to sign to an extension earlier rather than later. He became an integral part of the team’s strongest position group, and will not command top-of-the-market money as an unrestricted free agent.

Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) are players with exactly three accrued seasons and an expired contract. They can negotiate with other teams, but are subject to "tender" offers from their previous team — that team holds the right of first refusal, allowing them to match any offer sheet from another team or receive draft pick compensation if they decline to match. The base salary for an RFA in 2026 is projected at roughly $3.5 million/year.

CB Alex Austin (24): Like many of the restricted free agents on this list, the $3.5 million annual minimum for 2026 may complicate reunion plans for Alex Austin this offseason.

Austin battled through injuries in 2025 after signing a one-year, $1.03 million exclusive rights tender last spring. He logged all of his defensive snaps in Weeks 1-4, and returned late in the year as the fifth cornerback — behind 2025 addition Charles Woods.

While a reunion is possible, Vrabel & co. may opt for a cheaper option in the draft or free agency now that Austin’s price tag is beginning to go up.

QB Tommy DeVito (27): Tommy DeVito was brought in as the Patriots’ emergency third quarterback after being waived by the New York Giants on August 27.

While it was fun to have North End Tommy in Boston simply for the memes, his $3.5 million tender may be a bit too rich for that role, as New England can opt for a variety of cheaper options for camp arms and an emergency role.

I wouldn’t be holding my breath to see an extension happen, unless it’s a very team friendly deal.

OT Yasir Durant (28): Yasir Durant was preparing for a similar role to Lowe/Munford in 2025, but saw his season cut short before it ever got started. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve in August, and with the Patriots likely moving pieces around all over the offensive line this offseason, they’ll likely allocate the funds it would take to re-sign Durant elsewhere. It would be a surprise to see him return unless a very team-friendly deal can be negotiated.

LB Jack Gibbens (27): “Dr. Gibby” was another stellar free agency addition from last offseason, and signed onto Vrabel’s program on an extraordinarily inexpensive one-year, $1.3 million contract.

Gibbens’ history with Vrabel — who originally signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2022 with the Tennessee Titans — made him a great fit last year. After a successful 2025 campaign, he’s now a prime RFA extension candidate, as well.

Playing as a rotational off-ball linebacker with the Patriots, Gibbens logged 48.2% of New England’s defensive snaps during the regular season. He totalled 67 tackles, 38 defensive stops, six quarterback pressures, four hurries, one hit, one sack and three pass breakups including the postseason.

His $3.5 million tender could be the baseline for a multi-year extension, as Vrabel will surely look to retain a culture-setting role player that has fit into his system in multiple career stops.

DT Jaquelin Roy (25): Like Austin, the depth ahead of Jaquelin Roy along the interior of New England’s defensive line — paired with the price tag — may be cause to look elsewhere this offseason.

Roy showed promise for the Patriots in 2024, but spent 2025 on injured reserve as Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga, Joshua Farmer, Cory Durden and Eric Gregory all contributed for the team… and will all be returning next year.

While he may be able to compete for the fifth defensive tackle spot, the tender number may be a bit too rich to warrant a re-signing.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFAs) are players with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If their previous team offers a one-year tender at the league minimum (a projected $885,000 in 2026), the player cannot negotiate with other teams, forcing them to sign with their current team or sit out.

EDGE Isaiah Iton (24): Isaiah Iton was signed by New England in May of 2025 after spending 2024 in Tennessee as an undrafted rookie free agent. His season was cut short as he was placed on injured reserve on August 19. Iton could serve as a depth edge rusher that the Patriots showed interest in last offseason, with a manageable tender number to retain.

RB Deneric Prince (25): New England has a crowded backfield that now runs at least five-deep with the potential return of Antonio Gibson, Terrell Jennings, and Elijah Mitchell, whom the Patriots signed to a futures contract earlier this week. Prince spent just two days on the practice field with New England in the fall before being waived with an injury designation and reverting to injured reserve. Even still, he’s an affordable option to add bodies into the room for camp depth.

FB Jack Westover (26): Jack Westover will almost certainly be retained by New England as they gear up for the 2026 season, but he won’t be a roster lock even if/when he is re-signed.

Westover logged 21.7% of the Patriots offensive snaps last season as the team’s designated fullback, but was converted from tight end in the preseason after undrafted rookie free agent Brock Lampe was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

He was serviceable in the role over the course of the season, but his deficiencies as a lead blocker in short yardage led to the rise of Tonga in the backfield in the second half of the year.

The second-year player is cheap enough to retain, but with a full offseason to find other options, it would be surprising if he’s the only fullback competing for the role come this fall.

Others will also soon be due for extensions — CB Christian Gonzalez will be first up, and is likely to command at $30 million per year. With his performance through three years and the exclamation point he left on Super Bowl LX for the Patriots’ defense, it’s hard to imagine a world where New England wouldn’t back up the Brinks' truck for the home-grown superstar.

Soon thereafter, QB Drake Maye will be eligible for an extension next offseason. The going rate for quarterbacks of his caliber has already exceeded $60 million per year… those large cap numbers, along with the already existing big money deals the Patriots have signed on for, will need to be taken into consideration as they navigate signings over the next several years.

Wide Receivers Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas headline players with expiring contracts following the 2026 season, with TE Hunter Henry also in that group of offensive skill players on one-year deals.

Who will New England look to keep in town? Who will they be shipping out of Boston in the coming months?

We’ll be taking a closer look at the rest of the Patriots’ assets next, and reviewing potential strategies for building on their strong foundation in the coming days.

Stay tuned for that and more on Patriots Roundtable.

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