The New England Patriots have some work to do…
I’ll be the first to admit that they don’t have nearly as much as we all initially anticipated, but difficult decisions will need to be made in order to help the organization finally get back to the mountain top — especially since it [came up just one game short](https://nesn.com/2026/02/patriots-improbable-season-ends-with-brutal-super-bowl-defeat-seahawks/) to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
It’ll be interesting to see how things unfold, as the offseason continuously gives us plenty to talk about as we collectively navigate free agency, the draft, trade markets and everything else that brings about rumors and innuendo — but would you have it any other way?
No, we didn’t think so.
NESN will put together preview stories surrounding all of the offseason’s tentpole events — while discussing individual moves that could be made, general strategy ideas, how individual players could be impacted and what the final result might look like.
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_**Feb. 17:** Franchise/Transition Tag Window Opens
**Feb. 23 – March 2:** NFL Scouting Combine
**March 3:** Franchise/Transition Tag Window Closes
**March 9:** Legal Tampering Window Opens
**March 11:** New League Year Begins/Free Agency Opens
**March 29- April 1:** Annual League Meeting
**April 23-25:** 2026 NFL Draft_
The Patriots’ primary focus will be figuring out which internal free agents will remain, which external free agents should be targeted, how they can leverage their recent success with regards to attracting talent, whether or not it makes sense to make a splash move and filling in whatever gaps are left with the 2026 NFL Draft — and whatever else pops up during that time frame.
What do you think? [Leave a comment.](javascript:void(0))
**Unrestricted Free Agents
**_EDGE K’Lavon ChaissonS Jaylinn HawkinsTE Austin HooperRB D’Ernest JohnsonOT Vederian LoweOT Thayer Munford_
_DL Khyiris Tonga_
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**Restricted Free Agents
**_CB Alex Austin QB Tommy DeVitoOT Yasir DurantLB Jack Gibbens_
_DL Jaquelin Roy_
**Exclusive Rights Free Agent
**_DL Isaiah ItonRB Deneric Prince_
_TE Jack Westover_
**2026 NFL Draft
**_Round: 1 Pick: 31Round: 2 Pick: 63Round: 3 Pick: 95Round: 4 Pick: 125Round: 4 Pick: 131Round: 5 Pick: 169Round: 6 Pick: 190Round: 6 Pick: 201Round: 6 Pick: 208Round: 6 Pick: 211_
_Round: 7 Pick: 247_
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**Primary Needs
**_OLTELB_
_EDGE_
NESN will be publishing stories throughout the next several months previewing anything and everything relating to the offseason — and here’s a sneak peak of what that will look like:
_**Feb. 16:** Patriots Offseason Preview
**Feb. 17:** K’Lavon Chaisson (Free Agency Preview)
**Feb. 18:** Jaylinn Hawkins (Free Agency Preview)
**Feb. 19:** Austin Hooper (Free Agency Preview)
**Feb. 20:** Khyiris Tonga (Free Agency Preview)_
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_**Feb. 23:** Vederian Lowe (Free Agency Preview)
**Feb. 24:** Thayer Munford (Free Agency Preview)
**Feb. 25:** D’Ernest Johnson (Free Agency Preview)
**Feb. 26:** Patriots Could Relinquish Rights To Internal Free Agents
**Feb. 27:** Patriots Have Simple Choice To Make With Entering Free Agency_
_**March 2:** Patriots’ Priority Should Be Inking These Players To Offseason Extensions
**March 3:** Patriots Should Use Free Agency To Address These Needs
**March 4:** Patriots Who Could Be Potential Cap Casualties
**March 5:** Players Patriots Could Consider Trading This Offseason
**March 6:** Predicting Players Who Will Sign With Patriots In Free Agency_
_If you keep this page bookmarked, you can come back to find links to our offseason analysis and preview stories!_
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Featured image via Andrew Nelles/Imagn Images