New England Patriots defensive back Christian Gonzalez still carries the motivation from being the third cornerback taken on the 2023 NFL draft board.
The Patriots traded down to No. 17 on the board and still came away with Gonzalez in the end. It was one of the biggest steals of the draft. Devon Witherspoon and Emmanuel Forbes were the other two cornerbacks drafted ahead of Gonzalez.
Seeing his name fall on the draft board angered Gonzalez, who truly believed he was one of the best cornerbacks in the class. He came in viewing himself and Witherspoon as the 1A and 1B of the draft class, in no particular order.
“I was hot man. I was mad. One because I was already the third corner taken. I know I’m not the third corner of this class. I know I’m not the third corner. …Once I got to CB3, I was like, ‘I appreciate it. I’m happy. but I’m ready to go now.'” Gonzalez said on the Frat Rules Podcast.
Chrisitan Gonzalez was “heated” after being the third cornerback taken on draft night.
The #Patriots All-Pro corner thought he would go within the first ten picks, but instead dropped and went 17th overall.
(Frat Rules Podcast) | #NEPats pic.twitter.com/oqpenosbF9
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) February 17, 2025
It obviously worked out well for the Patriots with Gonzalez becoming a key staple of their secondary and one of the best cornerbacks in the league. In only his second NFL season, he has already received All-Pro honors.
As for the Commanders, they ended up releasing Forbes from their roster last November.
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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye believes the two young receivers, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, will step up for the team in 2025 after disappointing rookie campaigns.
Both receivers came to New England with expectations of contributing right out of the gates. However, Polk struggled to make plays in his limited opportunities, and Baker was barely on the field.
Polk recorded 12 catches for 87 yards, while Baker tallied one catch for 12 yards in the season finale against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots are hoping to make drastic improvements at the receiver position, but some of the help the team needs might already be on the roster.
“We brought in two rookie receivers, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker—were kind of feeling it out this year, and they both battled some injuries,” Maye said on “Green Light with Chris Long.” “But hopefully expecting one of them, if not both, to kind of make a splash this year.”
#Patriots QB Drake Maye on who he wants to have a breakout year:
“We brought in two rookie receivers, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, were kind of feeling it out this year and they both battled some injuries. But hopefully expecting one of them, if not both, to kind of make a splash this year.”
(: @greenlight) pic.twitter.com/Q8GuxsOfa8
— New England Sports Fellow (@NESportsFellow) February 20, 2025
Positive contributions from Polk and Baker would go a long way toward helping the Patriots’ offense reach the next level. It would also speed up the rebuilding process by limiting the outside help needed to compete.
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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye teased a potential return of one of the fan-favorite throwback uniforms during an appearance on the “Green Light with Chris Long” podcast.
Maye did not directly say that the organization was going to bring back the uniforms. However, he might have dropped a little hint during the interview.
“I think they may be coming out with a—the fans are wanting some blue, some throwback blues,” said Maye. “Those would be sweet. The fans are wanting it, so I think that would be pretty sick.”
The blue Patriots jerseys were a staple for the organization from 1993-1999. They have experimented with bringing back throwback uniforms before with the team donning the red Pat Patriot uniforms in recent years.
#Patriots QB Drake Maye hints that the team might wear some blue throwback uniforms this season:
“I think they may be coming out with a–the fans are wanting some blues. Some throwback blues. Those would be sweet. The fans are wanting it, so that’d be sick.”
(: @greenlight) pic.twitter.com/DiZAu2h3Kk
— New England Sports Fellow (@NESportsFellow) February 20, 2025
Blue throwbacks would certainly be exciting for Patriots fans, as it would bring them back to the Drew Bledsoe era.
The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback helped set the foundation for the Tom Brady era and was a major part of the transition into the near 20 years of success.
Time will tell if it actually happens, but it could be something for Patriots fans to look forward to.
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The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins for a second straight year if they fail to agree on a contract extension.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean Higgins will be playing for the Bengals in 2025.
The franchise tag is a placeholder that could be used for one of three reasons: the Bengals are looking to run it back after missing the playoffs in 2024, they want to buy time to hammer out a long-term extension or they’re considering trading Higgins and don’t want to risk losing him for nothing.
NBC Sports Boston’s Phil A. Perry broke down the current situation on Arbella Early Edition.
“Just talking to people around the league, and these are not people in Cincinnati. But the gist is I’ll believe it when I see it—Tee Higgins on the Bengals in 2025 and beyond,” said Perry. “Does that mean they just let him go to free agency and all of this talk about a franchise tag is bunk, or does it mean they franchise tag him and trade him?
“…You talk to football people. They look at that roster, and they say, ‘That’s a historic offense.’ …They didn’t make the postseason. It’s because they can’t stop a nosebleed. They’re scoring 30 [points] every week, but they’re giving up 34 [points].”
REPORT:
Per: @PhilAPerry
Tee Higgins to Cincinnati NOT SO FAST
“Here’s why I’m hearing on Tee Higgins. Just talking to people around the league, these are not people in Cincinnati, but the gist is, I’ll believe it when I see it.”
pic.twitter.com/I0zaKUUa6L
— Savage (@SavageSports_) February 22, 2025
The Patriots currently have two third-round draft picks, and they’re in a position to make Higgins one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL.
On the other side, the Bengals would have to be willing to pay Higgins a massive contract extension, while also extending All-Pro wideout Ja’Marr Chase, who reportedly will be seeking a record-breaking $40 million per year on his next deal.
Combine those moves with quarterback Joe Burrow’s already lofty contract, and it could present a real challenge for the Bengals to keep everyone.
Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Landry was originally drafted under new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
The Tennessee Titans have released outside linebacker Harold Landry after no team was willing to acquire him via trade, a move that might peak the New England Patriots’ interest. Landry, after all, spent the first six years of his career under new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
For seven great years
Thank you, @HaroldLandry pic.twitter.com/JcgOXhrRqk
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) March 7, 2025
Landry joined the NFL as the 41st pick in the 2018 draft out of Boston College. He quickly became a key member of the Titans’ defense and over the next seven seasons started a combined 84 regular season and playoff games. Along the way, he registered a total of 55.0 sacks as well as three forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions.
Earlier this offseason, the Patriots added his former head coach (Vrabel) and his former defensive line coach (Terrell Williams) to their coaching staff. Whether that connection will lead to a reunion in New England remains to be seen, but Landry looks like an obvious target for the edge-needy Patriots.
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Ximines will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The New England Patriots have already restructured their coaching staff for the second consecutive offseason. Now it is time for the real work with an expected overhaul of the roster coming.
Free agency will be a key part of this process. And while adding external players to the mix will undoubtably happen with over $130 million in projected cap space, there are also a few in-house free agents to be taken care of. Following a series of moves, 10 remain in need of a new contract prior to free agency.
Among them is outside linebacker Oshane Ximines, the final player in our free agency profile series.
Hard facts
Name: Oshane Ximines
Position: Outside linebacker/Defensive edge
Opening day age: 28 (12/7/1996)
Size: 6-foot-4, 254 pounds
Jersey number: 93
Free agency status: Unrestricted free agent (UFA)
Experience
NFL teams: New York Giants (2019-23), England Patriots (2024)
A four-year starter at Old Dominion, who registered 32.5 combined sacks during his college career, Ximines entered the NFL with Giants in 2019. The first ever Monarch to hear his name called in the draft, he went off the board 95th overall in the third round.
Ximines went on to spend five years in New York, but never developed beyond role player status. He did appear in a combined 50 regular season and playoff games for the organization, registering registering 6.5 sacks as well as one forced fumble and recovery each. He never exceeded more than 45 percent defensive playing time in any of his seasons as a Giant.
He joined the Patriots during the 2024 offseason, but was limited to only two games because of injury.
2024 review
Stats: 2 games (0 starts) | 14 defensive snaps (1.3%), 29 special teams snaps (6.6%) | 1 tackle, 0 missed tackles
Season recap: Five months after the Giants released him from their practice squad, Ximines was given an opportunity to prolong his NFL career. Reuniting with his former outside linebackers coach at the Giants, Drew Wilkins, he joined the Patriots on a one-year contract in late April.
Despite his minimum-level deal and his recent inability to earn regular playing time in New York, Ximines left a strong first impression in New England. With top pass rushers Matthew Judon and Joshua Uche both sitting out OTAs, he was given plenty of reps with the top defense — something that continued into training camp and the preseason.
After registering a pair of sacks and five total pressures in two exhibition games, Ximines looked poised for a prominent role. However, he was unable to carry his momentum into the regular season: before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, he was on the field for only 14 defensive snaps and was a virtual non-factor as a pass rusher. He registered one assisted run game tackle in the season opener.
Ximines’ biggest contribution came via special teams. Even though he did not put up any stats, he was part of five units in his brief time on the active roster and played 56 percent of available snaps over Weeks 1 and 2.
Free agency preview
What is his contract history? Ximines signed a standard four-year deal with he Giants upon his arrival in 2019, and later returned to the club on a one-year contract. He also signed a one-year pact with the Patriots, bringing his combined career earnings to $5.1 million, according to Over The Cap.
Which teams might be in the running? Given his recent history, Ximines likely will not be in high demand entering free agency. Teams who might be interested in adding him to their edge rotation include the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Why should he be expected back? The Patriots’ depth chart on the edge currently consists of starter Anfernee Jennings, a player best suited for early-down work, as well as backups Titus Leo and Truman Jones. Ximines would not fix all the woes — far from it — but he would be able to provide experienced depth at a minimal cost.
Why should he be expected to leave? Not only is Ximines coming off a major knee injury, he also has not registered a regular season sack since October 2022. Frankly, he would be little more than a reclamation project for a new-look Patriots coaching staff that has no ties to him (unlike last year’s through Drew Wilkins).
What is his projected free agency outcome? Ximines is a candidate to go one-and-done and is headed for the open market, but the Patriots might keep the door open for him to return further down the line. That said, he is not a priority by any means and seems more likely to depart than re-sign.
What do you think about Oshane Ximines heading into free agency? Is his tenure coming to an end? Or will the Patriots give him another shot? Please head down to the comment section to discuss.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Stay up to date with all the Patriots’ free agency news and rumors.
For a second straight offseason, the New England Patriots are entering free agency with a different head coach in place. After Jerod Mayo ran the show last year, it is now Mike Vrabel’s turn to try to bring the team back to relevance following three straight losing seasons.
The task at hand will not be an easy one, but Vrabel and the Patriots’ front office led by executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf do have plenty of resources at their disposal: besides owning the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft and four total top-100 selections, they also will have more than $130 million to work with in NFL free agency — the first big item on the offseason calendar.
New England is expected to be quite busy attempting to fill the holes on its roster. Groundwork for that already started leading up to free agency, with the action set to pick up on Monday, March 10: at noon that day, the so-called legal tampering period will open.
Two days after that, on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET, free agency and the 2025 NFL league year 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.
Patriots free agents 2025
CB Alex Austin (ERFA): Tendered (1 year, $1.03M) | Analysis
QB Jacoby Brissett (UFA): Profile
OL Ben Brown (ERFA): Tendered (1 year, $1.03M) | Analysis
OL Lester Cotton (RFA): Not tendered | Analysis
DT Daniel Ekuale (UFA): Profile
LB Christian Elliss (RFA): Tendered (1 year, $3.263M) | Analysis
RB JaMycal Hasty (UFA): Profile
S Jaylinn Hawkins (UFA): Profile
TE Austin Hooper (UFA): Profile
WR JaQuae Jackson (ERFA): Tendered (1 year, $840K) | Analysis
OT Demontrey Jacobs (ERFA): Tendered (1 year, $960K) | Analysis
CB Jonathan Jones (UFA): Profile
DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (ERFA): Re-signed (2 years, $2.48M) | Analysis
K Joey Slye (UFA): Profile
DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (UFA): Profile
ED Oshane Ximines (UFA): Profile
Also originally on the list of free agents was offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor. However, the team released him in early February after he already spent most of the 2024 season on the exempt/left squad list.
Patriots free agency signings
N/A
Patriots free agency departures
OT Chukwuma Okorafor: Released
LB Sione Takitaki: Released | Analysis
Patriots free agency news and rumors tracker
The Patriots are likely to make a strong push for former Lions cornerback Carlton Davis in free agency. New England defensive coordiantor Terrell Williams coached in Detroit last season. | Source
The Patriots “plan to move forward” with John Parker Romo as their only kicker at the moment. | Source
Patriots defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. changed agents before free agency. | Source
DK Metcalf wants to be traded to a contender in a warm-weather city. | Source
Ronnie Stanley, a top target for the Patriots in free agency, has re-signed with the Ravens. | Story
The Titans have released Harold Landry, a potential Patriots target on the edge. | Source
“Everybody in the league thinks that DK Metcalf is going to New England,” says NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah. | Source
The Patriots are expected to “be the driver” in pursuing wide receiver Chris Godwin should he enter free agency. | Source
The Patriots were in touch with the Chiefs about re-acquiring Joe Thuney via trade, but wouldn’t give up what Kansas City was looking for. | Source
Patriots transaction: In an unsurprising move, the Patriots are planning to not tender restricted free agent Lester Cotton. He will enter the open market on Wednesday. | Source
Patriots transaction: The Patriots will tender linebacker Christian Elliss as a restricted free agent, signing him to a one-year, $3.263 million right of first refusal tender. | Story
Despite receiving calls, the Bengals have made it clear that WR Tee Higgins is not available for trade. | Source
The Seahawks are reportedly looking for first- and third-round picks in return for wide receiver DK Metcalf. | Source
Patriots transaction: Exclusive rights free agent Alex Austin has signed his tender, keeping him around for the 2025 season. | Story
Potential Patriots target Zack Baun has re-signed with the Eagles on a three-year, $51 million contract extension. | Source
Wide receiver DK Metcalf has requested a trade from the Seahawks. | Story
The Patriots have reportedly called the Eagles to check if wide receiver A.J. Brown is available for trade. | Source
The NFL franchise tag window closes with two players tagged: Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and Chiefs guard Trey Smith were the only players this year to get tagged, the lowest total since 1994. | Source
Defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike will be a “name to watch” for New England in free agency. | Story
Eagles defensive lineman Milton Williams will be near the top of the Patriots’ free agency wishlist. | Story
If Ronnie Stanley stays put, Steelers left tackle Dan Moore or Vikings left tackle Cam Robinson will be explored as secondary options. | Story
Ronnie Stanley is the Patriots’ preferred target at the offensive tackle position. | Story
The Patriots have “kicked the tires” on a potential trade for Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf. | Source
The Ravens are confident that they will re-sign left tackle Ronnie Stanley. | Story
Two offensive linemen who were considered potential targets for the Patriots did get the franchise tag: neither Rams tackle Alaric Jackson nor Chiefs guard Trey Smith will make it to the open market. | Story
The Patriots have given defensive tackle Davon Godchaux permission to explore a trade. | Story
The NFL has finalized its 2025 salary cap at $279.2 million, meaning that the Patriots will have over $130 million to work with — the highest such number in the league. | Story
The Patriots are planning to be “aggressive” in free agency, according to head coach Mike Vrabel. | Story
Patriots transaction: Offensive linemen Ben Brown and Demontrey Jacobs have been tendered by the club. Both entered the offseason as exclusive rights free agents. | Story
Patriots transaction: Veteran linebacker Sione Takitaki, a member of the Patriots’ 2024 free agency class, has been released after only one season with the team. | Story
Potential Patriots wide receiver target Tee Higgins will be getting the franchise tag from the Bengals for a second straight year. | Story
Patriots transaction: Wide receiver JaQuae Jackson, an exclusive rights free agent who missed the entire 2024 regular season injured reserve, was tendered by the Patriots. | Story
Patriots transaction: Defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr., an exclusive rights free agent, has signed a two-year extension to stay with the Patriots. | Story
Patriots transaction: Offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor has been released. A pending free agent who first arrived via a one-year contract last offseason, Okorafor has been on the team’s exempt/left squad list since early September. | Story
Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images
The Patriots will enter free agency week as the league leaders in salary cap space, and they are willing to spend it.
Even though NFL free agency proper will not start until Wednesday afternoon, there already has been a clear uptick in activity across the league. It will reach a first climax on Monday at noon with the opening of the so-called legal tampering period.
The New England Patriots, who are the NFL leaders in salary cap space, are expected to be quite active from the get-go. How they will spend what projects to be around $110 to $120 million, depending on the details of the Harold Landry deal, remains to be seen.
To stay on top of all the latest news and rumors regarding the New England’s free agency, please make sure to bookmark and regularly re-visit our Patriots tracker. For now, let’s take a look at nine players the team of head coach Mike Vrabel and quasi-general manager Eliot Wolf has been linked to heading into free agency week.
NFL free agents linked to the Patriots
WR Chris Godwin: The Patriots have been linked to several wide receivers over the last few weeks, included recently-traded DK Metcalf and Deebo Samuel. While they will still try to evaluate the trade market and pounce if possible, the expectation is that they will come hard after the top wide receiver set to enter free agency: Chris Godwin, who would add a dynamic presence to Josh McDaniels’ offense and serve as a volume target and go-to guy for quarterback Drake Maye.
OT Dan Moore Jr. and OT Cam Robinson: New England considered Ronnie Stanley a top offensive tackle target this offseason, but with the Pro Bowler staying in Baltimore will have to pivot to the next best options to find a new starting left tackle. The belief is that Dan Moore and Cam Robinson of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings, respectively, are that in the team’s eyes. Neither would bring the same quality that Stanley would have provided, but either would be more than just serious challengers to the role held by Vederian Lowe in 2024.
OT Morgan Moses: We’ll mention Morgan Moses separately from Dan Moore and Cam Robinson, because unlike those two he would project to play right tackle for the Patriots. Even though he is already 34 and missed three games each in both 2023 and 2024, he projects as a fairly attractive stopgap solution — a high-quality/low-cost placeholder until either Caedan Wallace or a rookie addition is ready to take over — who is still an able run blocker and pass protector.
DT Milton Williams: The Patriots’ defensive line is set to see some changes this offseason, in large part because of new head coach Mike Vrabel preferring a more attacking style up front. The shift would make Williams a perfect fit and natural target to pursue — something the Patriots are expected to do even if he comes in at a cost upward of $20 million per year. The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder, after all, showed impressive improvement in his four years with the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
DT Levi Onwuzurike: The connection between Onwuzurike and the Patriots is obvious: new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was his position coach with the Detroit Lions last season. Williams helped the 27-year-old bounce back big-time after two straight challenging seasons, and he set himself up nicely for free agency by posting a career-high 47 quarterback pressures and also increasing his run stop rate to 6.3 percent.
CB Charvarius Ward: Thanks to Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots have one of their outside cornerback spots locked down for the foreseeable future. Ward, who was one of the league’s better CBs himself before an understandable down year in 2024 following the loss of his 1-year-old daughter, would be a good complement for the All-Pro and bring a similar aggressive style to the perimeter. If he can return to form following a fresh start, Ward and Gonzalez would give New England one of the most promising cornerback groups in football.
CB Carlton Davis III: Another former Lion set to enter the open market, Davis is another tall, physical cornerback tailor-made for an aggressive style of play. While his 2024 season came to a premature end due to a jaw fracture suffered in December, he was in the middle of a quality season that included a pair of interceptions and two forced fumbles. Davis would be as solid a No. 2 alongside Gonzalez as they come.
CB Byron Murphy Jr.: A former second-round draft pick, Murphy established himself as one of the NFL’s better ballhawks after joining the Vikings in 2023: starting 32 games over the last two seasons, he intercepted nine passes and also forced a pair of fumbles. Besides bringing superior size compared to current Patriots nickel Marcus Jones, he would also offer inside/out flexibility and therefore improve the depth both on the perimeter and in the slot.
The Patriots landing all nine of those players will not happen, for obvious reasons. However, it would not be any surprise if some of them eventually found their way to New England: some have connections to the current staff, some would address major needs, some would just give the club better competition or rotational depth at key spots.
The Patriots do have the means of acquiring any of them, though, and have shown an interest in making moves.
