Running through where the Patriots are after the first two waves of free agency, including:
• How did they do?
• Thoughts on Romeo Doubs, Kevin Byard and Julian Hill;
• Where the team is financially, and what could happen as it relates to A.J. Brown;
• Some of Eliot Wolf's tells;
• And are the Patriots largely done?
The first couple of waves of NFL free agency are over, and now it comes down to, if the team chooses, plugging some gaps with short-money free agents so they're not beholden to filling holes before the draft.
To this point, I think the Patriots did a very good job improving their roster. Is it perfect (edge, receiver)? No, but they did well in maximizing the cash available to them.
We're still waiting on a few contracts (Byard, Hill) to nail down exactly how much 2026 cash the Patriots have spent this offseason, but using high estimates, the Patriots have spent about $65 million. Before the offseason started, I predicted the Patriots would seek "a balance between cutting back on spending, Kraft allowing more leeway with the budget, and the departure of some players to give the Patriots somewhere in the vicinity of $50-60 million in cash to spend this offseason." So not too far off. The Patriots basically doubled their cash budget, with cash going out the door (Stefon Diggs, Garrett Bradbury, Jahlani Tavai, Anfernee Jennings). Bradbury and Jennings were mild surprises, but you can see the thinking (Jared Wilson and a high draft pick).
The Patriots maximized the cash available to them. They saved money and got a lot younger, going from Diggs to Dobbs. Dre'Mont Jones is better against the run and has more upside rushing the passer in this scheme than K'Lavon Chaisson. A healthy Alijah Vera-Tucker, with a definite injury risk, greatly improves the offensive line, and Wilson should at least give you what Bradbury did in Year 1, with a much higher ceiling. Byard is an upgrade over Jaylinn Hawkins, and Byard needs zero runway to acclimate to this scheme. Hill's blocking gives Hunter Henry a chance to be much better in the pass game for the entire season (Henry looked worn down by all the blocking at the end of the season). Reggie Gilliam, and Hill, should help solve all the short-yardage and red zone running issues.
Basically, everything I thought the Patriots needed to do this offseason, they've done or it could be coming in the draft.
My offseason checklist:
Identify the identity of the offense - CHECK
Get more physical on offense - CHECK
RT in draft - Likely coming via draft
Physical and imposing LG - CHECK
Drafting future starting G - Likely coming via draft
Real veteran FB - CHECK
Good blocking TE - CHECK
Offensive TE in draft to replace Henry - Likely coming via draft
Speed option on the boundary - Not checked, but it's a draft option
Edge - So-so, but I do think they’re OK for now pending the draft
Free safety in FA and one in the draft - CHECK, and we'll see
The Patriots have no glaring weaknesses in their lineup today. And the Patriots did all of that with $65 million cash. Do the Patriots now have the chance to be a better team in 2026, the schedule notwithstanding? I think the answer is a definitive yes, pending health. Shouldn't that be the goal every offseason?
• Updated depth chart/team needs