Expectations have been considerably raised for the Patriots in 2026.
In 12 months 1 underneath new head coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots went 14-3 in the course of the common season and unexpectedly made the Tremendous Bowl after ending 4-13 in consecutive seasons. Now it’s about determining tips on how to get again to the Tremendous Bowl and win all of it.
Vrabel and high front-office executives Eliot Wolf, Ryan Cowden and John Streicher have over $40 million in cap house (with different means to liberate extra) and 11 choices within the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Herald is publishing a day by day collection with 5 offseason fixes that cowl the draft, free company and trades that may assist the Patriots get again to the Tremendous Bowl.
No. 1: Commerce for DE Maxx Crosby
The Patriots maintain the thirty first general choose in what’s thought-about a comparatively weak draft. They will stand pat and hope to land an edge defender or offensive deal with, or be proactive and ship that choose (together with a participant or future choose?) to the Raiders for one of many NFL’s high cross rushers.
Crosby wants to play for Vrabel, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
And Wolf advised the Herald throughout Tremendous Bowl week that he’s prepared to make a commerce if it could actually assist the Patriots within the short- and long-term.
“However free company, trades, waiver wire, poaching, all these avenues that I discovered from Ted Thompson in Inexperienced Bay, that perhaps was slightly bit extra averse to spending large in free company typically, and didn’t actually need to make any large trades,” Wolf stated. “I don’t consider in that. I believe you probably have a possibility to enhance your roster within the brief time period and in the long run, that’s one thing it’s a must to take a look at.”
Crosby, 28, nonetheless has 4 years and $112.93 million left on his contract. Chosen within the fourth spherical of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Raiders, Crosby has 69.5 sacks and 5 Professional Bowl choices in seven seasons. He’s coming off of a 10-sack season in 15 video games, incomes Professional Bowl honors in 2025.
He’s led the NFL in tackles for loss twice in his profession and has 133 TFLs in seven seasons. He’s collected 164 QB hits in his NFL profession to associate with one interception, 29 passes defended, 11 compelled fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
The Patriots had a stout protection in 2025, however they had been extra constant at producing stress from the inside with defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. Toss Crosby into the combo, and so they may have a cross rush that stacks up with the Texans, Broncos and Seahawks.
Outdoors linebackers Harold Landry, Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson are at present signed for the 2026 season. Okay’Lavon Chaisson, a 2025 standout, is among the many Patriots’ high free brokers.
Including Crosby would eat up draft capital and subtract cap house, however the Patriots may instantly convert a few of Crosby’s $30 million base wage in 2026 right into a signing bonus to create $21.53 million in cap financial savings.
Trey Hendrickson, Odafe Oweh, Jaelan Phillips, Boye Mafe, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Jadeveon Clowney are PFF’s top-ranked free-agent edge defenders. They’ve Hendrickson’s contract projection set at one-year, $21 million and Oweh at 4 years, $77 million.
Crosby is youthful and extra constant than Hendrickson and a extra full participant than Oweh.
The Patriots’ Tremendous Bowl LX loss to the Seahawks confirmed that offensive line continues to be the Patriots’ largest weak spot, however there’s hope for the longer term that gamers like Will Campbell and Jared Wilson can enhance with age and expertise. The Patriots additionally produce other paths to enhance at guard and deal with by free company and the draft.
The Tremendous Bowl additionally confirmed {that a} path to profitable all of it can come from producing unrelenting stress that Seattle introduced towards Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
A participant like Crosby, paired with Williams, Barmore, Landry, Ponder and probably Chaisson, can carry that game-changing stress from all angles alongside the entrance seven.
Having a top-tier quarterback like Maye and head coach like Vrabel means the Tremendous Bowl is at the least on the desk any season. However the Patriots ought to maximize their probabilities of a title when Maye continues to be on a rookie contract.
Now’s the time to make a splash transfer, and dealing for Crosby would qualify.
