RSS Patriots Team Notes

Patriots links 2/18/26: Pats punch list: Extend Gonzalez, fortify OL

gettyimages-2235066668.jpg

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - SEPTEMBER 14: New England Patriots offensive tackle Mike Onwenu (71) run blocks during the game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

TEAM TALK


LOCAL LINKS


NATIONAL NEWS

  • Albert Breer (SI) NFL Takeaways: How the Raiders landed on Klint Kubiak as head coach; Plus, Joe Brady’s vision for the Bills and more.
  • Andrew Brandt (SI) Business of Football: NFL grievance win may not stop public shaming from NFLPA Report Cards. Very possible the worst scores on the annual surveys will still get leaked to the public; Plus, thoughts on Super Bowl LX, a lack of diversity among the coaching ranks and more.
  • Nick Shook (NFL.com) Ranking all 63 starting quarterbacks from the 2025 season. Drake Maye 4th.
  • Garrett Podell (CBS Sports) NFL’s top regression candidates: Why Patriots, Bears and others are poised for major fall in 2026. /So… it’s ‘Super Bowl or bust’ already?
  • Alex Kay (Bleacher Report) Ranking the top 10 potential cap casualties after Tyreek Hill’s release from Dolphin. No. 10 Stefon Diggs.
  • Experts (USA Today) 2025 NFL season winners, losers: We asked our experts to weigh in. Winner: Parity.
  • Nate Davis (USA Today) NFL power rankings post Super Bowl 60. Patriots 5th. “…let’s celebrate what this team accomplished, reclaiming the AFC East crown from Buffalo and becoming the first NFL team to finish a season 9-0 on the road.” /Click for more commentary.
  • Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) Most memorable scouting combine moments include Vernon Davis dominating and Tom Brady not dominating.
  • Mike Kadlick (SI) Longtime Bill Belichick assistant Ernie Adams to return to coaching in 2026. The 72-year-old will be Phillips Academy–Andover’s interim head coach this season.
  • Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report) 2026 Free Agency Big Board: Ranking top 50 players after Super Bowl
  • Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) Top 25 NFL Free Agents.
  • Nate Davis (USA Today) The top 26 players (currently) scheduled to be available in 2026.
  • Karl Rasmussen (SI) 2026 Free Agency: 10 best tight ends – 10 best running backs available.
  • Eva Geitheim (SI) 2026 Free Agency: 10 best wide receivers available.
  • Eva Geitheim (SI) 10 players who could cash in big in free agency this offseason.
  • Mike Kadlick (SI) Ranking the 3 most likely Tyreek Hill landing spots after Miami release: KC, BUF, SF.
  • Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today) 2026 NFL mock draft: Projecting the first round. Pats pick Texas A&M OLB Cashius Howell at 31.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...26-pats-punch-list-extend-gonzalez-fortify-ol
 
Patriots free agency 2026: K’Lavon Chaisson is not going to come cheap

gettyimages-2257293388.jpg

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 18: K'Lavon Chaisson #44 of the New England Patriots runs during an NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Despite finishing the season strongly, the New England Patriots’ pass rush had its ups and downs throughout the 2025 campaign. It wasn’t due to K’Lavon Chaisson’s efforts, though: the first-year Patriot proved himself a disruptive player who finished the year setting multiple career marks and leading the team in several statistical categories.

Needless to say, Chaisson has positioned himself well with free agency coming up. What can be expected, though? Let’s assess his situation.

Hard facts​


Name: K’Lavon Chaisson

Position: Defensive edge/Outside linebacker

Jersey number: 44

Opening day age: 27 (7/25/1999)

Measurements: 6’3”, 255 lbs, 32 1/4” arm length, 9 7/8” hand size, N/A Relative Athletic Score

Experience​


NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars (2020-23), Carolina Panthers (2024), Las Vegas Raiders (2024), New England Patriots (2025-) | College: LSU (2017-19)

A five-star recruit out of North Shore High School in Galena Park, TX, Chaisson drew considerable interest on the college scouting trail. He eventually decided to join LSU over offers from Texas, Oklahoma and Stanford, among others, and went on to spend three seasons in Baton Rouge.

During that time, he saw action in 26 games with 17 starts and registered a combined 92 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Earning All-SEC recognition in both of his healthy seasons as a Tiger (first team in 2019; freshman in 2017), Chaisson opted to forgo his final two seasons of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft in 2020. A highly-regarded edge option, he eventually heard his name called 20th overall in the first round.

Chaisson spent the entirety of his rookie contract with the Jaguars, but failed to live up to his draft status. Playing in 59 combined regular season and playoff games, he notched just five total sacks and later saw the fifth-year option in his deal declined. He ended up leaving Jacksonville as a free agent in 2024, but lasted only five months with his new team, the Panthers.

Chaisson later joined the Raiders on a one-year pact and promptly managed to double his career total in sacks (from 5 to 10). His performance in Las Vegas set the stage to him moving to New England in free agency, and he went on to build on his 2024 performance by playing the best football of his career in 2025.

2025 review​


Stats: 20 games (12 starts) | 833 defensive snaps (64.9%), 129 special teams snaps (23.5%) | 43 tackles, 19 missed tackles (30.6%), 14 TFLs, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery (1 TD) | 73 quarterback pressures (10.5 sacks, 18 hits, 44 hurries) | 3 targets, 1 catch surrendered (33.3%), 6 yards, 1 PBU | 1 missed special teams tackle | 7 penalties (incl. 2 declined)

Season recap: Signing a one-year, $3 million deal in free agency, Chaisson joined the Patriots as a projected rotational piece in a defensive edge group also featuring Harold Landry, Keion White and Anfernee Jennings. He initially started out as the next man up behind starters Landry and White, but by mid-August had overtaken the latter on the depth chart: while White’s transition to a new role did not go as smoothly as planned, Chaisson showed some real flashes and eventually entered the regular season as a top option on the edge.

He kept that role throughout the year and finished first on the Patriots in sacks (10.5), pressures (73), tackles for loss (14) and forced fumbles (3). His disruptive potential was on display regularly, even though he had a six-game dry spell in November and December without a sack.

When the playoffs came around, however, Chaisson brought his A-game to finish with three quarterback takedowns and 20 total pressures in four games.

His 2025 highlights did not end there. The former first-round draft pick also scored his first career touchdown when he scooped up a loose ball against the Titans in Week 7 and returned it 4 yards for a score.

Chaisson endeared himself to the Patriots’ coaching staff not just because of his playmaking potential on defense, but also his willingness to appear on special teams. A mainstay on the punt coverage team especially early in the season, he ended with 129 snaps in the game’s third phase — the second most of his career, and a significant uptick compared to the 16 he played with the Raiders in 2024.

But while 2025 was another step in the right direction for Chaisson, it wasn’t all roses and sunshine either. He had some serious issues as a run defender and in the tackling department, and his seven penalties were tied for third most on the team.

All in all, however, the 2025 season was a successful one for Chaisson. He showed that his one-year stint in Las Vegas was not a fluke, and that he can be a disruptive player on the defensive edge.

Free agency preview​


Free agency status: Unrestricted free agent (UFA)

What is his contract history? Entering the league as a first-round draft pick in 2020, Chaisson received a fully-guaranteed rookie contract worth $13.3 million over four years. Since then, however, he mostly played on modest deals: he signed a one-year, $2.5 million pact with the Panthers and started his Raiders career on a practice squad deal before putting his signature under a one-year, $1.13 million deal. New England ended up giving him $3 million last offseason, a contract he actually managed to outperform by earning an extra $2 million through playing time and sack incentives. Overall, his total career earnings have been calculated by the Over the Cap at $19.8 million.

Which teams might be in the running? There is no shortage of teams needing help on the edge this offseason, including the Patriots. Elsewhere in the league, the Bills, Eagles, Cowboys, Commanders, 49ers and Buccaneers also are currently light in that area and might be looking at a player like Chaisson to bolster their depth chart and improve their defensive disruptiveness.

Why should he be expected back? Besides Chaisson himself claiming that he would want to return, the Patriots also have the means and the motivation to strike a deal. Frankly, they need all the good edge players they can get. While he is probably best suited to play more of a specialized role compared to how he was used in 2025, the 26-year-old still has shown his value to the team. He is a natural pass rusher who plays with a high motor and has shown a knack for getting to the quarterback and knocking the ball free. Sure, he has areas to work on, but he brings a solid foundation to build on in a second season within the same system.

Why should he be expected to leave? New England is in a solid position when it comes to available resources, but they will still try to stay reasonable when it comes to re-signing Chaisson. If he prices himself out of their comfort zone, they likely will let him leave in hopes of possibly recouping a compensatory pick or getting similar production out of other players at a lower cost — or take a big swing on a higher-upside option.

What is his projected free agency outcome? Chaisson is arguably the Patriots’ highest-profile free agent, but we project that he will return to the team when all is said and done. Looking at his age, production and career progression, we can see a deal similar to the three-year, $51.1 million pact Bryce Huff signed with the Eagles back in 2024. While an annual average of around $17 million is a lot, the market plus a growing salary cap means that it is not entirely unreasonable either for a player who performed on a solid level at a premium position.

Now it’s your turn to play GM: What would you do with K’Lavon Chaisson? Give him a deal similar to the one outlined above? Or simply let him go and hope to replace him either with another player or in the aggregate? Please head down to the comment section to share your plan.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...s/122228/klavon-chaisson-profile-preview-2026
 
Patriots links 2/19/26: Rushing to Safety: Pats roster needs

gettyimages-2255116441.jpg

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: Jaylinn Hawkins #21 of the New England Patriots intercepts a pass in the end zone in the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

TEAM TALK

  • Patriots updated Mock Draft Tracker.
  • Patriots Catch-22: Evan Lazar and Alex Barth go full offseason mode from the Pats biggest needs, the NFL combine, players and drills to watch, and position analysis. Plus, draft prospects that best fit the Pats scheme, hidden gems and More. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS


NATIONAL NEWS

  • Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: Everything you need to know about franchise and transition tags with NFL free agency on horizon.
  • Analytics Team (NFL.com) Next Gen Stats: The rise of split-safety coverage is taking the NFL by storm.
  • Around the NFL (NFL.com) 2026 NFL free agency: Free agents, notable departures for all 32 teams.
  • Zachary Pereles (CBS Sports) One free agent every team should make sure to keep. Patriots: Edge K’Lavon Chaisson.
  • Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Top 100 free agents: Market light on big-name talent, but some stars to be had.
  • Austin Gayle (The Ringer) Ranking the top 50 NFL free agents of 2026.
  • Conor Orr (SI) 2026 NFL Quarterback carousel preview: 24 Players worth monitoring.
  • Eva Geitheim (SI) 2026 NFL Free Agency: Best available Edge Rushers – Quarterbacks – Cornerbacks.
  • Aaron Schatz (ESPN) Players who need a change of scenery this offseason. Patriots: Christian Barmore.
  • Kevin Patra (NFL.com) Eight players in free agency who could be misvalued in 2026.
  • Dan Parr (NFL.com) Top five draft needs for all 32 teams entering offseason. Patriots: Edge, OL, DL, TE, S.
  • Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) 2026 NFL mock draft 2.0. Pats pick Missouri Edge Zion Young at 31.
  • Dan Parr (NFL.com) 2026 NFL mock draft 1.0. Pats take Clemson Edge T.J. Parker at 31.
  • Tom Fornelli (CBS Sports) 2026 NFL mock draft 1.0. Pats pick Illinois LB Gabe Jacas at 31.
  • Michael McCann (Sportico) Mahomes, Kelse face trademark lawsuit over Kansas City steakhouse.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...inks-2-19-26-rushing-safety-pats-roster-needs
 
A.J. Brown trade rumors: Should Patriots pursue Eagles wide receiver?

gettyimages-2255301290.jpg

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 11: Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown #11 engages the crowd during the NFL Wild Card game between the San Fransisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles on January 11th, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The New England Patriots passing offense was one of the best in the NFL during the 2025 regular season, but it struggled to produce at the same level against superior competition in the playoffs. There are several reasons for that, and a multitude of potential fixes including upgrading at the wide receiver position.

Don’t get us wrong, the Patriots’ wideouts performed at a surprisingly high level compared to the group’s 2024 performance. However, it was missing something: a true No. 1 capable of making game-changing plays in an instant and single-handedly changing how defenses try to counter New England.

Players like that do not grow on trees, and neither are they cheap to bring aboard from outside. However, when it comes to the pursuit of a Super Bowl, drastic-looking measures might be necessary — measures such as making a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for veteran wideout A.J. Brown.

Let’s assess the argument for and against such a move.

Why the Patriots should pursue an A.J. Brown trade​


Proven WR1: As noted above, the Patriots lacked a true No. 1 wide receiver in 2025. They did get solid contributions from Kayshon Boutte, Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, who all filled that position at various points, but none of the three are true game-changers deserving of the WR1 label. Brown, on the other hand, continues to fill that role for the Eagles and would supposedly give New England its first real top-tier No. 1 receiver since Brandin Cooks in 2017. He has the makings of such a player, after all, both because of his proven production and elite athletic profile. Brown could be a volume target for Drake Maye with some serious big-play potential.

Trickle-down effect: The value of such a WR1 lies not just in what he can directly provide for a team, but also the indirect effect his presence would have on the composition of an offense. Brown would be a player opposing teams would have to account for, which consequently would give New England’s other receivers more favorable matchups. Take the AFC Championship Game as an example: the Patriots would likely not have Kayshon Boutte covered by All-Pro Patrick Surtain, but rather by Riley Moss — a one-on-one Boutte would be more likely to win that his battle with Surtain. Meanwhile, Surtain vs. Brown would project as a much more level fight.

Roster shuffling: We will get to the topic of compensation in a second, but before we do we need to talk about Brown’s impact on the roster itself. Adding him would probably make another player expendable, and there are plenty of candidates for that to happen. Fact is, after all, that none of Kayshon Boutte, Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas are roster locks for 2026. While Douglas plays a different role, any of the other three could be removed from the team in the aftermath of a Brown trade (or in Boutte’s case potentially be involved in the move itself). If that happens, adding him to the mix could potentially result in a relatively insignificant cap charge: Brown, after all, would come with a cap number of either $6.79 million or roughly $29 million depending on some option bonuses embedded into the pact.

Character fit: Even though Brown appears to be unhappy with the state of the Eagles and his position within the organization, that specific situation needs to be looked at separately from what he would provide to the Patriots if traded there (particularly considering he was a fan of the team growing up and still holds it in high regard). The 28-year-old, after all, was a three-year captain in Philadelphia for a reason: his teammates gravitated toward him and his leadership, and it is no stretch of the imagination that the same would happen in Foxborough.

Mike Vrabel connection: The Patriots being a potential landing spot in case Brown gets traded is primarily due to one man: head coach Mike Vrabel, under whom Brown was drafted by the Titans in 2019. The two spent three seasons together in Tennessee, and as the wideout admitted on the latest episode of the Dudes on Dudes podcast featuring ex-Patriots Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, he has a good relationship with his former coach despite what he described as somewhat of a rocky start.

Why the Patriots should not pursue an A.J. Brown trade​


Asking price: From a Patriots perspective, trading for Brown would make fiscal sense regardless of the aforementioned option bonuses. The Eagles, on the other hand, would take on a massive $43.5 million dead cap hit were they to move on from Brown before June 1 (and even afterwards it would still be $27.2 million for the 2026 season). In order for that pill to swallow, Philadelphia might be asking for some steep compensation. What that would look like is anybody’s guess, but the Patriots might have to be willing to part ways with some valuable assets either in the draft or on their current roster to manufacture a deal.

Wear and tear: Brown entered the NFL in 2019 and has since appeared in a combined 118 regular season and playoff games. And while his body has mostly held up well, he also missed a combined six games over the last two seasons while dealing with hamstring and knee issues. Those would not be a disqualifier per se, and neither would his previous exposure. However, combined with the asking price the Patriots might find themselves in an uncomfortable position.

Alternatives: Rather than spending a high draft pick or possible starter-caliber player to acquire a soon-to-be 29-year-old Brown, the Patriots might feel better about exploring alternative options. Maybe they feel good about the talent they have on their roster, primarily Kayshon Boutte and Kyle Williams? Maybe they see the draft as a more attractive pipeline to improve at wide receiver, with players such as K.C. Conception, Denzel Boston or Omar Cooper Jr. possible candidates to be added in the late first round? It is not entirely unrealistic that a team still in the early stages of its rebuild would feel better about that direction rather than going after a player like Brown.


A.J. Brown to the Patriots is an interesting thought experiment because of the potential implications a trade would have on a team that made it all the way to the Super Bowl in 2025. Because, make no mistake, he would be the team’s No. 1 wide receiver if brought aboard and instantly become its most dangerous downfield weapon.

However, he also would not come cheap and likely disqualify the Patriots from pursuing other candidates such as the potential first-round rookies mentioned above or another popular trade target, Raiders edge Maxx Crosby. That trade-off might be worth it, but there are no right or wrong answers until the Patriots’ actual performance on the field in 2026 with or without any of those players mentioned.

As for Brown himself, he likely would welcome a change of scenery and getting traded to New England. Whether the Eagles see it the same way remains to be seen and could be the ultimate hold-up.

From a Patriots perspective, though, one thing is true either way: a talent such as Brown would add more quality to an offense still in need of it despite some promising signs in 2025.

So, what do you think? What trade package would you present to the Eagles? Would you present one at all? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-opinion/122358/aj-brown-trade-rumors-analysis
 
Patriots reportedly fulfill veteran receiver Mack Hollins’ missed contract incentive

gettyimages-2243272816.jpg

Foxborough, MA - October 26: New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins stiff-arms Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward in the fourth quarter. The New England Patriots played the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 26, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

While a lacerated spleen kept Mack Hollins off the field from December into January, a payday remained in play.

The New England Patriots have added a $400,000 signing bonus to the veteran wide receiver’s contract for 2026, according to Friday reports from Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti and NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

Hollins, 32, finished his inaugural regular season in Foxborough just four catches shy of hitting a $400,000 incentive. But what was missed has since been honored by head coach Mike Vrabel’s organization as sights set on the new league year.

At the time of his placement on injured reserve, Hollins stood with 46 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns. He stood there while leading New England’s wideout depth chart with 657 offensive snaps through 15 appearances, including 13 starts.

Activated from injured reserve on the eve of the AFC Championship Game, which marked the earliest return date under NFL rules, Hollins went on to catch six passes for 129 yards and one touchdown through playoff starts versus the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks.

Arriving at Gillette Stadium last March on a two-year, $8.4 million contract featuring $3.5 million guaranteed, Hollins now moves forward with a cap number of $5.55 million when factoring in the $400,000 sweetener.

Per PatsCap’s Miguel Benzan, that upcoming cap number features $2.9 million in base salary and $1.15 million in signing bonuses. It also features a $150,000 offseason workout bonus, $600,000 in receptions incentives, as well as up to $750,000 in active roster bonuses for the 6-foot-4, 221-pound target.

Entering the NFL in the fourth round of the 2017 draft at No. 118 overall, Hollins spent previous campaigns with the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills. The North Carolina Tar Heels product, who earned a Super Bowl LII ring as a rookie, has caught 220 passes for 2,861 yards and 19 touchdowns through 135 career games, counting postseason.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...r-mack-hollins-400k-missed-contract-incentive
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top