9 Patriots safety targets to know

The Patriots are lucky to enter the 2026 offseason with out many obvious wants on the high of their depth chart.

Most starters are set to return from the 2025 season, once they earned a Tremendous Bowl berth. The one two starters from final season’s squad set to hit free company are edge defender Ok’Lavon Chaisson and security Jaylinn Hawkins.

If Hawkins, whom the Patriots have interest in retaining, doesn’t return, then security turns into one of many staff’s largest wants.

Per sources, the Patriots really feel it’s a deep group of free-agent safeties. The Patriots, underneath head coach Mike Vrabel and assistants Zak Kuhr, Terrell Williams and Scott Booker, want versatile safeties with the vary to play the deep half of the sector. Reasonably than having a free security and robust security on the roster, they like to easily play their safeties on the suitable and left aspect of the sector.

They’d a pleasant setup final season with Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson. Bringing again Hawkins could be the best solution to fill the security want, but it surely’s additionally attainable that the Patriots might improve the place with a youthful participant with larger upside.

Listed here are the names to know, with contract projections courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

High targets

Bryan Cook dinner

Ht/Wt: 6-1, 206
Age: 26
Projected contract: $12 million per 12 months

Perhaps not the most important title, Cook dinner is considered the highest security on this 12 months’s free-agent class. The Chiefs impending free agent was chosen within the second spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati. He’s helped the Chiefs win two Tremendous Bowls whereas primarily taking part in as a deep security.

Cook dinner earned an 83.5 PFF grade final season in a breakout 12 months. He has three interceptions, 238 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 15 cross breakups in 62 profession video games with 47 begins.

Coby Bryant

Ht/Wt: 6-1, 193
Age: 26
Projected contract: $10 million per 12 months

A transformed cornerback, Bryant was a part of the Seahawks’ Tremendous Bowl LX roster that beat the Patriots. Bryant was additionally chosen within the 2022 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati, however he was taken within the fourth spherical. He’s spent the final two seasons of his profession as a security, taking part in in 32 video games with 26 begins, registering seven interceptions, 13 cross breakups and 139 tackles.

Bryant has earned PFF grades over 70 in every of his seasons as a security. Like Cook dinner, he’s spent most of his time as a deep security.

Jalen Thompson

Ht/Wt: 5-11, 190
Age: 27
Projected contract: $10 million per 12 months

Thompson was a supplemental fifth-round select of Washington State and has performed his complete profession with the Cardinals. He’s now set to play on his third NFL contract after signing a three-year, $36 million deal in 2022.

A flexible security, Thompson hasn’t registered a PFF grade underneath 65 since his rookie season. He has 9 interceptions, 37 cross breakups, 578 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 9 QB hits in 99 profession video games with 87 begins.

Kamren Curl

Ht/Wt: 6-2, 207
Age: 26
Projected contract: $9 million per 12 months

Patriots vice chairman of soccer operations and technique John Streicher spent the 2024 season with the Rams, the place Curl has performed since 2024. The upcoming free agent was initially chosen by Washington within the seventh spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Arkansas.

Curl intercepted two passes with 5 cross breakups, two sacks, 122 tackles, two tackles for loss and two QB hits final season whereas incomes a 77.8 PFF grade.

Kevin Byard

Ht/Wt: 5-11, 218
Age: 32
Projected contract: $9 million per 12 months

A 3-time first-team All-Professional and three-time Professional Bowl choice, Byard was chosen within the third spherical of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Center Tennessee by the Titans. He performed underneath Vrabel from 2018 to 2023, when he was traded to the Eagles.

He’s spent the final two seasons with the Bears and has continued his excessive degree of play. Although he’s older than many of the gamers on this listing, a reunion with Vrabel and his former Titans assistant coaches might make some sense on a short-term deal. Byard earned Professional Bowl and first-team All-Professional honors final season with seven interceptions.

Mid-level veterans

Jaylinn Hawkins

Ht/Wt: 6-1, 208
Age: 28
Projected contract: $6 million per 12 months

Hawkins had a breakout season final 12 months with the Patriots whereas beginning 15 video games. It was solely the second season of his profession wherein he spent many of the season as a starter.

Hawkins rewarded the Patriots with 4 interceptions, six cross breakups, one compelled fumble and 1.5 sacks. Some across the NFL nonetheless don’t contemplate Hawkins as a starting-level defender, which might decrease his worth, permitting the Patriots to signal him to a lower-level deal. Hawkins expressed a desire to return to the Patriots following Tremendous Bowl LX.

Reed Blankenship

Ht/Wt: 6-1, 203
Age: 27
Projected contract: $6 million per 12 months