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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 16: Jaelan Phillips #50 of the Philadelphia Eagles leaves the field following a game against the Detroit Lions at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The New England Patriots didn’t have many weaknesses during the 2025 season, and even their weaknesses were mostly worked around via solid coaching. But one area that could certainly use an upgrade heading into 2026 is at edge rusher.
Milton Williams was a spectacular pick-up last offseason, but outside of him, New England didn’t have a true edge threat. Most of its pass rush came from linebackers, which was a great bonus, but having a true stud at edge rusher would make all the difference in the world in 2026.
Though there’s been plenty of speculation around a potential Maxx Crosby trade after he made it known he’d like to play for Mike Vrabel, but the asking price for him may be too high. So, if Crosby isn’t a true option, the free agent market will be where New England looks to make its move.
Three Edge Rush Options Listed For Patriots
Patriots beat reporter for “The Athletic” Chad Graff reported that he’s hearing rumors around three free agent edge rushers the Pats are interested in.
“Much of the Patriots’ defensive plan last season worked out incredibly well,” Graff wrote. “Milton Williams was the interior disruptor they hoped for. The secondary was great. But New England feels that edge rusher is one of its biggest needs this offseason.”
“That’s why the Patriots aren’t expected to be satisfied with one answer at the position,” Graff continued. “They’re doing their homework on the top free-agent edge rushers, including Jaelan Phillips, Odafe Oweh and Boye Mafe.”
Phillips, Oweh, and Mafe are three of the top five edge rushers on the market this offseason. Each come with hefty price tags, but New England is projected to have over $50 million in cap space this offseason, making a couple of high-value free agents a reasonable target for the team.
According to “The Athletic,” Phillips is projected to earn a four-year, $98 million deal, Oweh a four-year, $88 million deal, and Mafe a four-year, $73 million deal. If New England makes a move to acquire one of these three, it will be putting close to $100 million on the books for the next four years.
But it’s an investment worth making; edge rusher is a premium position for a reason. Top end edge rushers have the potential to impact every single game in a massive way, so the hefty price is almost always worth paying when talking about guys like that.
Phillips, Oweh, Mafe: Who is the Best Fit For New England?
Phillips and Oweh are, in my opinion, the two best fits for the Patriots. First and foremost, both are 27-years-old, so New England would be getting them for the primes of their careers.
Both played in defined roles with their teams in 2025, where as Mafe was a rotational guy with the Seahawks; the Patriots already have the depth, now they need the top-end talent.
The Patriots saw plenty of Phillips in his four and a half seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He has 28 career sacks and is a true disruptor as a pass rusher. Looking purely at talent, he’s the guy New England should be most heavily pursuing come free agency.