In 2025, Mike Vrabel re-constructed the New England Patriots’ roster in one offseason.

With over 30 new players on the 53-man roster to begin the season and an NFL record 416 games played by first-year players on a team that reached the Super Bowl, Vrabel made it a clear and evident priority to wipe the slate clean of the old guard and bring in new players that fit his scheme and off-field culture.

His transition in the locker room was near seamless; seemingly every new face brought into the building fit his vision and executed well when put in position on the field.

Vrabel now enters offseason number two with an opportunity to build upon what he started last offseason — with his first-year success as a foundation of legitimacy to help sell new additions on the prospect of joining the crew.

With $41.82 million to spend in free agency and several contract extensions for high-profile current Patriots on the horizon, Vrabel and the New England front office will likely continue to re-shape the roster to fit his vision for the team long-term.

That will begin with more roster turnover… from players whose positional value doesn’t currently align with their role on the team to high-priced contracts that moving off of would create more space for others to sign/re-sign — the Patriots’ young roster will still be taking shape through this offseason and offseasons to come.

New England will have to make difficult decisions on current players as they prioritize their greatest needs, and that’ll start in the weeks ahead.

Here’s a list of possible cap casualties for the Patriots this offseason — players whose current deals would be financially beneficial for the team to move on from this offseason.

Cap Hit of $4.87 million in 2026, $1 million in dead cap

Anfernee Jennings has fit whatever role the Patriots have given him over the last five seasons, but his name popped up early on in the Vrabel era as one New England could look to move on from. He doesn’t fit the prototype of what Vrabel looks for in an edge defender, and saw his snap count significantly reduced in 2025.

From training camp, to the preseason, and through the NFL trade deadline last year, it seemed like a matter of when, not if, the Patriots would sever ties with Jennings — as they did with many other legacy defensive starters from the old regime (Ja’Whan Bentley, Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, etc.).

With the emergence of undrafted rookie Elijah Ponder late in the season, a potential reunion with K’Lavon Chaisson, and an eye on another addition to that room this offseason on the horizon, it seems all the more likely Jennings has played his last snaps with New England.

Cap Hit of $4.14 million in 2026, $1 million in dead cap

Akin to Jennings, Antonio Gibson has fit in well with the Patriots since being picked up prior to the 2024 season. Initially a spell to Rhamondre Stevenson, his role took a hit when New England drafted RB TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

While the early portion of last season featured a backfield with all three of them, Gibson is likely the odd man out. Stevenson is paid handsomely for his services and showed an all-time resurgence at the tail end of 2025, and Henderson is set for a Year 2 leap in Josh McDaniels’ offensive system.

Now coming off of a torn ACL that sidelined him for most of the season, Gibson would be a clear third back in the rotation — and the Patriots have already shown the ability to make due with much cheaper options in that role.

He’s a versatile player that gives the offense a little bit of everything, but at over $4 million dollars, his limited reps could be reserved for a more cost-effective option, like running backs Terrell Jennings, Elijah Mitchell, or Lan Larison.

Cap Hit of $7.40 million in 2026, $1.2 million in dead cap

Garrett Bradbury experienced success as the starting center in New England in 2025 after signing with the team in free agency last offseason. Most would agree that his performance level exceeded expectations, and he was reliable for the vast majority of the year.

Most would also agree that there needs to be re-shuffling done along the Patriots’ offensive line to shore things up in front of Drake Maye — especially after the group’s playoff performance.

Because of that, we start with Bradbury when looking at pieces New England can maneuver along the offensive front. While this isn’t an indictment on his services, it is the easiest contract to move on from, and the easiest position to replace.

Heading into the NFL Draft last offseason, Jared Wilson scored second out of 622 center prospects from 1987-2025 in Relative Athletic Score (RAS, 9.98 out of 10) before being moved to guard — where he experienced a roller coaster of a rookie season. Long term, it may benefit the Patriots to move Wilson back to center, and bring in another veteran presence at left guard between he and Campbell with the savings from Bradbury.

That switch would allow Wilson’s athleticism to shine, and with a year under his belt, provide him with an opportunity to put some better film out there at a position that feels like a much more natural fit.

Bradbury would be on the outs with that switch — but that’s sometimes how business has to be done in the NFL.

Cap Hit of $5.15 million in 2026, $750,000 in dead cap

Mack Hollins’ cap number would be favorable to move on from if another addition was made in the X receiver room this offseason, but following his performance for New England in 2025, that’s about where that argument ends.

He’s going to be 33 by the time next season gets underway, and his heavy involvement in 2025 set near career-best marks in nearly every statistical category, bested only by his 2022 campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders — under head coach Josh McDaniels.

More than a boundary X, Hollins showed versatility as a blocker in the running game, and flexed into the Z role most commonly when the Patriots went under center. He became Drake Maye’s most reliable over-the-middle target at wide receiver, leading the room with 12 catches on 16 targets for 198 yards when targeted between the hash marks on intermediate throws 10-20 yards downfield.

His long frame and wide catch radius became a reliable weapon in the passing game, and he’d only be replaced if New England spent significant assets on upgrading the wide receiver room.

Still, his contract is favorable to move on from, and his presence doesn’t negate the potential of getting younger and more athletic at wideout.

Cap Hit of $16.35 million in 2026, $19 million in dead cap (Pre June 1 Designation)

Cap Hit of $16.35 million, $15 million in dead cap (Post June 1 Designation)

Harold Landry III is a Mike Vrabel guy through-and-through. He was selected by Vrabel in his first draft as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans out of Boston College with the 41st overall pick in 2018, and was Vrabel’s first free agent signing when he became the head coach of the Patriots in 2025.

He’s racked up 59 sacks in his seven-year career (missed 2022 with a torn ACL), but entering his age-30 season, he’s coming off a year marked by injuries in New England. Landry struggled to stay on the field consistently after a knee injury in Week 6 at the New Orleans Saints, and only recorded four sacks for the remainder of the season — following a hot start with five sacks in the team’s first six games.

With a hefty price tag, Landry’s struggles to produce, history of injury, and advancing age make him a prime candidate for a re-structure this offseason. Those conversations can become difficult, and if the two sides can’t come to an agreement, Landry could find himself on the outside looking in.

With edge a primary position of need, the Patriots may look to re-allocate funds to re-sign a player like K’Lavon Chaisson (26) and/or bring in another talent at the position.

Landry’s cut would likely need to be designated as a Post-June 1 transaction, but the savings from his contract would give New England the flexibility to take another swing at the edge position.

That would be one of the tougher decisions to make on this list given Vrabel’s longstanding history with Landry — but not too far-fetched considering the cap number.

Cap Hit of $26.5 million in 2026, $8 million in dead cap

In 2025, Stefon Diggs recorded his seventh-career season with at least 1,000 receiving yards and became the first New England receiver to hit the mark since Julian Edelman in 2019. His fiery passion for the game and leadership on the team made an immediate impact in the locker room and on the field.

While the Patriots organization has maintained steadfast support of the star receiver, he has carried some off-field “distractions” with him — both entering and exiting the season.

With just $1.7 million in guaranteed money on his contract entering 2026 and a playoff run in the books that saw him net just 14 receptions on 20 targets (70.0% catch rate) for 110 yards (7.9 yards per catch) and one touchdown in four games, his contract looks tempting to move on from.

In the regular season, Diggs emerged in a primarily slot role when New England ran three wide receiver sets. He excelled in an Edelman-esque role, becoming a zone-sitting threat that became available early and often for Maye — catching a league-best 83.3% of his targets.

That success failed to carry over into the postseason, and the Patriots offense was unable to find a consistent counter to make up for the lost production. While Diggs may not be a bona fide “number one” at this point in his career, he certainly was in New England’s offense for the vast majority of last season.

Now entering his age 33 season, it’s looking more and more likely that both sides would want to re-structure Diggs’ current deal… and that could create complications.

Losing Diggs after one season would leave a massive gash in a passing attack that generated much more headway last season than many years in recent memory. But for a variety of reasons — including his cap number — it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility.

Let’s hope if Diggs does exit, it’s for an obvious upgrade.

Cap Hit of $17.1 million in 2026, $12.8 million in dead cap

While the Patriots’ statement on Diggs’ off-field accusations was overwhelmingly supportive, the tone was much more reserved with Christian Barmore’s situation.

Barmore’s had his share of critiques when it comes to “character concerns” — following him all the way back to the NFL Draft and through his time in Foxboro. While this isn’t meant to dig into all of that, it does raise a point that Mike Vrabel’s preached since taking over as head coach: “protect the football team.”

That’s something that owner Robert Kraft has also made a point of doing. And as one of the team’s highest-paid players, Barmore sets an example for conduct for everyone in the locker room.

On the field, Barmore has been highly productive. Playing alongside Milton Williams in 2025, both finished the season — and postseason — ranked in the top-five in pressures generated by interior defensive linemen.

The pair was dynamic together, but Williams is now the team’s highest-paid player — and there could be plenty of other depth behind him. The Patriots could easily re-sign Khyiris Tonga with a fraction of the savings from Barmore, and they also have Cory Durden, Eric Gregory and Joshua Farmer returning. Barmore would certainly be a big loss for the interior defensive line, but his presence isn’t impossible to replace with Williams already leading the way.

Barmore’s production in New England goes back years, which is what earned him a payday to begin with. Still, there’s a lot more to weigh when making a decision on him moving forward than his on-field performance.

Vrabel & co. seemed to get the best out of Barmore in 2025. If he is retained, it’s a testament to the strong culture Vrabel’s built in the locker room — and the confidence he has in being able to sustain that moving forward.

Cap Hit of $25.0 million in 2026, $7.5 million in dead cap

Mike Onwenu’s future status with New England will be much more of a debate topic than Bradbury. Onwenu has consistently been the highest-performing offensive lineman in Foxboro for several years now, and earned a very rich contract to show for it just two offseasons ago.

But with other large contracts on the horizon — Christian Gonzalez this year, and Drake Maye next year — it’s a wonder if the Patriots will get to a point where that deal is just a bit too rich for the positional value.

This year, New England can move off of the $25 million dollar deal with a savings of $17.5 million on the cap. With other shuffling along the offensive line likely coming, there’s an argument for keeping him and moving on.

Those who’d like to retain Onwenu will point to his performance and his veteran status as being the longest-tenured player up front. But if last year’s draft selections of Will Campbell and Jared Wilson are any indication, the Patriots are moving away from linemen with his more limited athletic profile, toward bigger bodies who can move in space.

Either way, the numbers don’t lie — and for the team’s third highest-paid player (behind Milton Williams and Stefon Diggs), they’re favorable for an offseason move. With more cost efficient guards (and centers) set to hit the free agent market this offseason, the timing could be right for a transition.

If New England wants to really shake things up in front of Maye, Onwenu could be a trade piece that greatly reduces the price tag at guard. 

Cap Hit of $8.56 million in 2026, $3.5 million in dead cap

In March 2025, the Las Vegas Raiders signed Christian Elliss as a restricted free agent, but the Patriots matched the offer sheet to retain the linebacker on a two-year deal.

Elliss proved that decision to be a wise one in 2025, finishing with 94 tackles (second on team) in 15 regular season games. He brought a hard-hitting presence in the linebacker room, and was a great compliment to Robert Spillane (97 tackles, led team) off the ball.

With Jack Gibbens (81 tackles, third on team) a restricted free agent this offseason, New England remains thin behind their starters at off-ball linebacker — and won’t be in a hurry to make any moves that detract from the position group. They could look to upgrade, however. With the prospective retention of Gibbens and the addition of another linebacker through free agency or the draft, Elliss’ cap number may not be equivalent to his role on the team.

That would put him in jeopardy of being a cut candidate, on a now one-year contract that would save the team over $5 million against the cap as they look to re-shuffle the deck for future success.

Elliss delivered highlight plays for the Patriots in 2025. As the roster is currently constructed, he seems like a lock to return to the role he had with the team during their successful campaign. But it’s not impossible that — at some point — his deal becomes one the team could move off of.

Cap Hit of $11.75 million in 2026, $2.5 million in dead cap

The most unlikely (but not entirely impossible) cut candidate on this list is Hunter Henry — and that is strictly due to the savings.

Henry has been the most reliable receiving option for New England in the passing game since he joined the team in 2021, and is coming off of a career year, setting high marks in targets (98), receptions (69), yards (880), and touchdowns (8), including the postseason. His connection with Maye has been especially notable over the past two seasons, and is a go-to target in high-pressure situations in the Patriots offense.

Still, Henry enters the final year of his contract and will turn 32 during the 2026 season. His six drops and 8.0% drop percentage also marked career-highs in 2025.

With little-to-no depth behind Henry in the tight end room — as Austin Hooper is set to become an unrestricted free agent — it’s hard to imagine a scenario where New England wipes the position clean and starts over.

It’s far more likely that the Patriots add to the room around Henry — but, theoretically — there are other options out there to replace a number-one tight end this year. Travis Kelce, David Njoku, Kyle Pitts, and Isaiah Likely are all pending free agents. A five-year high of 27 tight ends were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.

This offseason looks to be a good one to target the position, and with Henry’s long-term uncertainty and team-friendly cap number to move on from, it’s not impossible they go in a different direction — just extremely improbable.

More realistically, we can expect New England to bolster the position behind him. Whether that’s retaining Hooper, bringing in another player such as Likely through free agency, drafting another contributor, or some combination of the three — we can expect some changes at tight end in 2026.

After a year that saw the Patriots make an extremely unexpected Super Bowl run, it may be difficult to cut emotional ties with contributors that helped lead New England to profound success.

As proven time and time again, the NFL is a business — and those in Foxboro will certainly treat their roster construction as such moving forward.

While some of these names may be far more likely to be finding new homes than others, each presents a real financial benefit to the Patriots as they look to effectively manage their salary cap space around current players like Christian Gonzalez and Drake Maye, who will soon be due for massive extensions.

Building around those franchise centerpieces will be the key to all decision making for New England, and may involve some surprises — as we’ve already seen from some teams around the league this offseason.

For the Patriots, the hope is that for every subtraction, there is an even greater addition — those that will embrace Vrabel’s culture and mentality on and off the field, and be constants on teams competing for championships for years to come.

Who do you identify as someone the Patriots will be looking to move on from this offseason? Who should be considered “untouchable” on the current roster as New England moves pieces around?

Let us know in the comments below, or join as a member and sound off in our community posts!

Next up, we’ll be taking a closer look at players outside of the organization that the Patriots may look to target as additions this offseason — in free agency, trades, and via the NFL Draft.

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