Earlier this week, the New England Patriots and right guard Mike Onwenu agreed to restructure the starting offensive lineman’s $17.5 million contract in 2026.

Entering the final season of his initial three-year, $57 million extension signed in 2024, Onwenu had no base salary remaining on his deal and all of his remaining contract value was based on roster bonuses and incentives.

Since being drafted 182nd overall by New England in the 2020 NFL Draft, Onwenu has developed into the team’s best offensive lineman over the past five seasons. A 6’3”, 350 lb. mauler at guard, Onwenu’s power in the run game and consistency as a pass blocker have made him a reliable piece even when there have been question marks at the positions surrounding him.

The restructured deal grants Onwenu a base salary of $10 million heading into 2026, while trimming his salary cap hit by $7.5 million. Onwenu gets guaranteed money, and the Patriots gain more flexibility against the cap for impending roster transactions — a win for both parties.

After Onwenu’s restructure, New England currently has $43.97 million in available cap space entering the 2026 season (per Spotrac) — fifth most in the NFL.

On the surface, it looks like the Patriots are set up well under the cap to continue wheeling and dealing, but the math changes quickly when factoring in the potential salary commitments that future transactions may pose.

The first of those moves is likely to be a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown, who carries a cap hit of $23.9 million in 2026. New England would be responsible for $6.79 million of that deal next season, leaving the team with $32.26 million in available cap space.

If his current contract is maintained, Brown would be signed with the Patriots through 2029 and hold an average annual value (AAV) of $26.5 million over the next three years. 

An explosive threat in the passing game that perfectly aligns with the skill set and tendencies of quarterback Drake Maye, Brown will make his impact felt on a weekly basis in the New England offense. The Patriots will have to surrender draft capital and a large chunk of their remaining salary cap space to make that happen, but their maintained interest in Brown suggests that they’re more than willing to accept that.

Next on the agenda for New England would be signing star cornerback Christian Gonzalez to a lucrative contract extension. Gonzalez is eligible to renegotiate his rookie deal for the first time this offseason, and enters 2026 carrying a cap hit of just $4 million. His fifth-year option was picked up by the Patriots this offseason, and he would account for a $21 million cap hit in 2027 if played out.

Both sides have expressed interest in a long-term commitment, and the corner’s absence at the team’s Organized Team Activities (OTAs) last week may be an indication that he’d like the timeline of that deal to be accelerated.

While the corner market may currently be set around $32 million, the price tag for other premium positions around the league has gone up. Earlier this offseason, the Houston Texans signed edge rusher Will Anderson to a contract worth $50 million annually, and the Seattle Seahawks signed wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a contract with a $42 million AAV.

There is a chance that Gonzalez is aiming to reset the corner market to be more representative of annual contract values at other premium position groups around the NFL. In that case, New England would likely have to use $32 million as a starting point for an extension, but be prepared to see that number climb.

Gonzalez would make far more than the $4 million in guarantees he's currently slated to play for, but back-loading the contract would make it feasible to sign both he and Brown this offseason and still be under the cap.

Drake Maye’s contract extension is also looming, as he’ll be eligible to renegotiate his rookie deal next offseason.

In his first full year as a starter in 2025, Maye led the Patriots to a 14-3 record as the NFL’s MVP runner-up in the regular season and a Super Bowl LX appearance in the postseason. At just 23 years old, he proved himself as the team’s franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future, and an extension should come as soon as he’s able to restructure his deal.

Those negotiations may very well be of the “blank check” variety if the third-year quarterback continues along his current trajectory. By that point, it’s likely that his AAV balloons to somewhere in the $60–$70 million range.

Another massive commitment financially for the Patriots — who have been the beneficiaries of having their two best players on rookie contracts for each of the past two seasons — but a deal they won’t hesitate to finalize.

While the Patriots have enjoyed the salary cap flexibility that comes with having a strong foundation of young talent, the bills will soon be due.

For New England’s front office, that financial burden has been created through recent success on the field — which was the hope when those players were drafted by the team. Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf’s roots come from a “draft, develop, and re-sign” ideology with the Green Bay Packers, and he’ll soon be faced with similar decisions to make on star talent in Foxboro.

The manner in which the team surrounds those three players with talent would likely change as they combine to account for nearly one-third of New England’s overall team cap, highlighting the importance of continued excellence in the draft.

With success on the field also comes a different pool of players that are attracted to the team in free agency. In recent years, the Patriots have paid above market value to sign proven players. Now, they’ll be engaging with veterans who are willing to make concessions on AAV for the opportunity to compete for a championship.

Entering the final year of his current contract, Onwenu seems to be a player who’s willing to play ball on that end — and his recent renegotiations are a testament to his confidence in New England’s championship pedigree.

We’ll see if any others follow suit. 

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