Expectations have been considerably raised for the Patriots in 2026.
In 12 months 1 below 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 the right way to get again to the Tremendous Bowl and win all of it.
Vrabel and prime front-office executives Eliot Wolf, Ryan Cowden and John Streicher have over $40 million in cap area (with different means to liberate extra) and 11 alternatives within the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Herald is publishing a each day sequence with 5 offseason fixes that cowl the draft, free company and trades that may assist the Patriots get again to the Tremendous Bowl.
Step No. 1: Trade for Maxx Crosby
Step No. 2: Fortify Offensive line
Subsequent step, No. 3: Lengthen key homegrown gamers
Wolf has shown a willingness to construct out the Patriots’ roster in a wide range of methods, however his key philosophy continues to be to draft and develop.
The Patriots rewarded 2022 third-round choose Marcus Jones with a three-year, $36 million contract extension at midseason. Gamers drafted in 2023 are actually eligible for contract extensions. That features Professional Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez, linebacker/security/special-teamer Marte Mapu, vast receivers Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas and punter Bryce Baringer.
Gonzalez should be the priority, and he’ll doubtless reset the marketplace for cornerbacks. Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner is presently the highest-paid cornerback within the NFL, signed to a four-year, $120.4 million deal. Texans cornerback is on a three-year, $90 million deal, whereas Panthers cornerbacks Jaycee Horn is locked in for $100 million over 4 years. Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, drafted in 2021, is a discount at 4 years, $96 million.
The APY to any deal for Gonzalez begins at $30.1 million. If Gonzalez indicators a three-year deal, the Patriots can be lucky if it’s for $96 million. The ground for a four-year deal is probably going round $128 million. A extra life like deal may are available round $100 million for 3 years or $140 million for 4 years. An extension for Gonzalez would formally kick in after the 2027 season. Gonzalez continues to be below his rookie contract for 2026, and the Patriots will assuredly choose up his fifth-year choice for the 2027 season, which is projected round $18 million. So, Gonzalez continues to be below some price management over the subsequent two seasons, although they will unfold out a brand new signing bonus over these years, lowering his cap hit for future years.
After Gonzalez, an extension for Boutte is smart. Boutte continues to be below his rookie contract in 2026. He was a sixth-round choose, so he’s not eligible for a fifth-year choice.
It’s tougher to challenge a contract for Boutte. And he may elect to take a threat and play out his 2026 season to see if he can improve his worth earlier than he hits free company. By way of three seasons, Boutte has topped out at 43 catches, 589 yards and 6 touchdowns for career-highs. He was on tempo for a greater season in 2025 earlier than struggling a concussion and hamstring damage, limiting him to 14 video games. He added 9 catches for 168 yards with a landing within the postseason.
There’s not an ideal participant comp for Boutte, however the Payments’ Khalil Shakir, the Falcons’ Darnell Mooney, the Ravens’ Rashod Bateman, the Giants’ Darius Slayton, the Payments’ Josh Palmer, the Jaguars Dyami Brown and the Rams’ Tutu Atwell all just lately signed offers value $10-to-$13.25 million per yr. The ground for a Boutte deal can be round $10 million per yr, whereas — with the rising wage cap — a ceiling can be round $15 million.
Signing Boutte to an extension would lock in a starting-caliber vast receiver whereas nonetheless giving the Patriots flexibility to discover a higher receiving choice, relying on what they do with Stefon Diggs this offseason.
Diggs, 33, is due $22.5 million in money this season. On March 13, $6 million of his $20.6 million wage turns into absolutely assured. So, the Patriots should decide earlier than then. He pleaded not responsible to felony strangulation or suffocation and a lesser assault and battery cost in opposition to a live-in chef on Feb. 13. He’s due again in court docket April 1. So, the Patriots might want to decide on his future earlier than that pre-trial listening to.
Extending Douglas, Mapu and Baringer are lesser priorities. The Patriots may even usher in competitors for Baringer this offseason after inconsistent play in the course of the 2025 common season and playoffs.
