Key additions in free agency: WR Stefon Diggs, DT Milton Williams, CB Carlton Davis, LB Harold Landry, WR Mack Hollins, C Garrett Bradbury.
Key additions in the draft: OT Will Campbell, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Kyle Williams, C Jared Wilson, S Craig Woodson, DT Joshua Farmer, DE Bradyn Swinson, K Andres Borregales, OT Marcus Bryant, LS Julian Ashby, CB Kobee Minor.
Changes from last year: The Patriots stumbled through their first season without Bill Belichick, starting 1-6, and ending 1-6 as well, that final win coming against a Bills team who sat their starters. Quarterback and Charlotte-native Drake Maye was sacked 34 times last season, so the Patriots went out this offseason and found protection for their former first-round pick. After picking up Bradbury in free agency, the club drafted Will Campbell No. 4 overall in April. And after a season when the offense finished second to last in the league, Robert Kraft wanted more firepower on the outside. He got it with Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins.
The Patriots won one of the biggest sweepstakes in free agency, bringing in Milton Williams to beef up the defensive line.
Head coach Jerod Mayo was fired following the regular season finale, ending his one-season with his former team. Kraft brought in another former player, Mike Vrabel, to try again to replace Belichick. Vrabel has former head coaching experience. He was with the Tennessee Titans from 2018-2023, going 54-45 in that time, making the playoffs three times. The Patriots also returned Josh McDaniels. The former Las Vegas Raiders head coach, who took 2024 off after being fired in 2023, is back in New England for his third stint as the offensive coordinator.