8 possible cut or trade candidates for Patriots ahead of NFL free agency

Coming off a Tremendous Bowl look and with a comparatively younger core of stars, the Patriots are poised for a probably thrilling free company interval in 2026. Extra notable stars might be taking New England significantly as a free agent vacation spot because of Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel, and the workforce’s success in 2025. 

However with a view to land one or two marquee free brokers – or put collectively a extra full class of center floor gamers because it did final yr – the Patriots might must sever ties with just a few of the members of its present roster.

Listed below are eight potential minimize candidates that would assist New England create extra cap house to chase free brokers this spring.

Stefon Diggs

Diggs’s future with the Patriots is way from black and white. On the one hand, his relationship with Maye made him one of many younger QB’s favourite targets all season, and Diggs definitely proved he nonetheless has a lot left within the tank on the sphere. Then again, his ongoing authorized proceedings are nicely documented, and he’d additionally present essentially the most cap house of any participant on New England’s roster if minimize.

Diggs has a base wage of $20 million on the books for 2026, however solely $1.7 million assured. Reducing him would save the Patriots $16.8 million (per OverTheCap).

Whereas Diggs may simply be value each little bit of the $20 million he’s set to make, his distinctive contract construction additionally makes him an interesting minimize candidate if New England decides its prepared to maneuver on.

Some mixture of: DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte

The Patriots have numerous different choices to make of their receiver room this season past Diggs. Any mixture of Douglas, Hollins, and Boutte may probably be minimize or traded this offseason. It’s extremely unlikely that each one three could be minimize, and it’s additionally potential that each one three stay with New England in 2026.

Nonetheless, they’re all grouped collectively due to their comparable contract statuses. Not one of the three have assured cash left on their offers, that means that chopping any of them would save New England between $3 and $4 million in cap house this season. Hollins would save essentially the most ($4 million) and can also be the oldest of the three, so he’d seemingly be a extra doubtless candidate to chop.

Nonetheless, Douglas didn’t appear to have a lot of a task in New England’s offense in 2025, and including one other receiver by way of free company may shrink his position even additional in 2026. That might imply his days in Foxborough are numbered.

Boutte’s productive season in 2025 appears to make him the least more likely to be minimize of those three, nonetheless he could be essentially the most attractive commerce piece of this group.

Christian Barmore

There appear to be combined sentiments about whether or not Barmore might be traded or retained this offseason. He’s arguably the least doubtless minimize candidate on the checklist, however may very well be concerned in a commerce as a cap balancer if the Patriots have been capable of land a premier edge rusher like Maxx Crosby this offseason.

Nonetheless, Barmore has been an efficient defensive lineman towards each the run and go, so buying and selling or chopping him appears unlikely until the return is just too good to refuse.

Like Diggs, Barmore can also be going through courtroom proceedings for an home violence incident, and that would have an effect on his future in Foxborough as nicely.

Christian Elliss

The Patriots aren’t extremely deep at linebacker, and it’s potential they convey again each member of that group for 2026, probably including a chunk or two by way of free company and the draft. 

In the event that they have been to make a minimize on the place group although, Elliss appears to be the odd man out. Robert Spillane was given a multi-year dedication to be the brand new chief of that group, whereas different rotational items like Marte Mapu and Jahlani Tavai are on contracts favorable to New England’s cap state of affairs. 

Elliss has a cap variety of $8.5 million for 2026, however solely $2.25 million assured, so he’d save the Patriots just a few million if launched. 

Elliss additionally had a relatively tame 2025 statistically. He recorded 39 solo tackles, 94 complete tackles and one pressured fumble. He didn’t document a sack or interception.

Nonetheless, he may very well be saved round in 2026, particularly if New England doesn’t re-sign Jack Gibbens, who is ready to hit free company.

Garrett Bradbury

If Bradbury is minimize, it’s unlikely that it will happen till coaching camp. But when Jared Wilson competes for the beginning heart job in 2026 and wins it, that might make Bradbury a near-lock to be minimize. He has no extra assured cash on his deal and the transfer would save the Patriots over $5 million.

Bradbury is a veteran presence and it’s most likely too quickly to make that decision earlier than free company, however he’ll be a reputation to watch in August.

Morgan Moses

Moses is in the same but reverse place to Bradbury. If he have been to be minimize, traded, and even retire, it will be extra more likely to occur earlier within the offseason. The suitable deal with was a standout in 2025, and if the workforce desires to retain him, it will be extremely doubtless they’d be doing so to maintain him as their starter, reasonably than enter him right into a positional battle. 

But when he or New England decides its time to maneuver on, the workforce would doubtless desire a succession plan in place through free company or the draft. 

$4.5 million of Moses’s wage is assured for 2026, however the Patriots would nonetheless save about $3 million in the event that they have been to launch him earlier than June 1.