Patriots Free Agent Tracker: The latest news & rumors out of Foxboro
Get the latest news and rumors on the Pats in NFL free agency in one place at our own live tracker.
The New England Patriots head into the official start of the NFL league year and free agency having addressed their biggest needs, signing edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones, guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, and wide receiver Romeo Doubs over the first two days. They also made an upgrade at the fullback spot with the addition of Reggie Gilliam.
Read below for live updates as it relates to the Pats on Wednesday...
Patriots add blocking tight end, another safety
The Patriots made two more free-agent signings on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with tight end Julian Hill and safety Mike Brown, according to Ian Rapoport.
Analysis: The Patriots continue to make over their special teams units and shore up their secondary depth with the addition of Brown. The more promising addition here, though, is Hill, who primarily played as an inline blocking tight end in 2025 for the Dolphins. We'll see exactly how well Hill blocks, but a dedicated blocker who plays at an average level should still a real upgrade over what they've had in that role in recent years. The Pats have really attacked their blocking issues on offense, beyond just the offensive line, which is the most encouraging development of the week so far. -Matt Dolloff
Patriots sign S Kevin Byard
The Patriots are making a significant addition to their secondary. Former Titans safety Kevin Byard is joining the Pats on a one-year, $9 million deal, according to Tom Pelissero.
Doubs signing makes Pats less desperate for A.J. Brown
Romeo Doubs is an excellent fit for the Patriots offense and promises to replace most or all of Stefon Diggs' production He's also giving them insurance.
Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network echoed what other reporters have said about the Patriots' trade pursuit of Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, posting on X in part: "I’m told the move doesn’t end their interest in trading A.J. Brown. Need just isn’t as dire now & cap dynamics change in June."
This essentially seems like a negotiation tactic by the Patriots. The Eagles don't have the leverage to tell the Pats they're desperate for another receiver. This is turning into a game of chicken, and if a Brown trade does happen, it's likely to take place closer to the draft.
Patriots signing LB K.J. Britt
An addition for the Patriots linebacker room: former Dolphins linebacker K.J. Britt is signing with New England, according to Adam Schefter.
Analysis: Britt projects as a special teams regular for the Patriots, having played on every unit except field goal kicks in 2025 for the Dolphins. He does have experience in a regular role as an inside linebacker, having played 65% of defensive snaps for the Bucs in 2024. But mainly, Britt appears to be a move to shore up their LB depth for their special teams units, where Jahlani Tavai and Anfernee Jennings were regulars and Jack Gibbens is on track to become a restricted free agent. -Matt Dolloff
Patriots releasing LB Anfernee Jennings
The Patriots are making a roster cut just before the official start of the league year: as broken by Adam Schefter, they're releasing linebacker Anfernee Jennings.
Cutting Jennings will shave $4 million in salary and bonuses off the books, and create about $3.8M in cap space. Jennings was an effective edge-setting linebacker in a limited role under Mike Vrabel in 2025, and played well in the playoffs, with two sacks, 16 total tackles, and three tackles for loss in four games.
K'Lavon Chaisson signing with Commanders
The Patriots are undergoing a makeover at the edge rusher position. K'Lavon Chaisson is leaving to sign with the Commanders on a one-year deal for $12 million, as reported by Ian Rapoport. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler had hinted late Tuesday night that this was coming.
With Chaisson out the door, the Pats have a lot of snaps to replace. Free-agent addition Dre'Mont Jones will fill some of them, but they still need to add if they want to markedly improve their pass-rush up front.
Schefter & Fowler have different takes on A.J. Brown trade
Initial reports suggest that the Patriots are not out on a potential A.J. Brown trade. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler doesn't necessarily dispute that, but his most recent commentary adds context, specifically that a trade isn't "imminent" and that he's "not so sure they're going to allocate the resources" to trade for Brown now that they've signed Doubs.
Additionally, Adam Schefter said that the window to make the trade was before the start of free agency, and now that we're well into that process in terms of the contracts being agreed upon, it's more likely that a Brown trade would happen just before or during the draft.
It makes sense that the Patriots would hold out until the draft, at this point. They can figure out whether they want to use one of their top picks on a receiver, or cash it in for Brown. But the window to make the move in March has likely passed.
Pats still not out on A.J. Brown
The Patriots appear to still be holding out hope for an A.J. Brown trade. According to Karen Guregian of MassLive, the signing of Romeo Doubs "won't necessarily preclude the Patriots from continuing to pursue" Brown.
It feels like a game of chicken to this point, as the Pats wait patiently for the Eagles' asking price to come down, and Philly sits on the other side hoping for New England to get desperate. Considering how the Pats have operated this week, it's hard to imagine them acting out of desperation at this point.
Patriots sign WR Romeo Doubs
The Patriots have invested in the wide receiver position in free agency. As first reported by Ian Rapoport on Tuesday, the Pats are signing former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs.
Analysis: The Patriots add a legitimate receiver to the fold, and one that's still just 25 years old, is barely one of the 30-highest-paid in the league, and is a tremendous fit for what Josh McDaniels wants in a wide receiver. Doubs is a good route-runner who can consistently get open and catch the ball in the short-to-intermediate areas, and he's historically been a productive red zone target. He may lack the pure talent to be a true coverage-dictating No. 1 receiver, but he's arguably the best the Patriots have and will be a valuable, reliable weapon for Drake Maye. -Matt Dolloff
Alijah Vera-Tucker's contract includes historic bonuses
The details are in for the new three-year contract for Patriots offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker. And for the talented-but-oft-injured Vera-Tucker, he'll need to be on the field to make a good chunk of the money. As reported Tuesday by Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Vera-Tucker's contract includes $250,000 per game in active roster bonuses, which adds up to a whopping $4.25 million for merely being on the gameday roster for a full season.
Provided Vera-Tucker is healthy, he will in fact be an every-week starter for the Patriots, likely at left guard. But it's understandable for the Patriots to protect themselves against a player that has suffered a torn Achilles and a tear in each triceps in his career.
Patriots still active in search for No. 1 receiver
Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network had some intriguing updates on the Patriots and their search for an upgrade at wide receiver. He said the trade talks with the Eagles for A.J. Brown are "not dead yet" and a Brown trade is still their "No. 1 priority if they had a choice," but it sounds like the Pats are waiting for Philly's "very high" asking price to come down.
Wolfe also said it's not likely the Patriots would reverse course with Stefon Diggs, who they intend to release on Wednesday after the start of the new league year. Romeo Doubs sounds like he's still an option for them in free agency, but he wouldn't necessarily solve the No. 1 receiver problem like Brown would.
Analysis: Realistically, a trade was always the Pats' best chance at landing a new No. 1 target for Drake Maye. The free-agent market thinned significantly after Alec Pierce, who himself is not necessarily a true No. 1 receiver, he just happened to be the best guy available. They should also continue to take shots in the draft, but there's no guarantee of getting No. 1 receiver production out of a rookie. If they want to add a guy to make an immediate impact in 2026, trading for Brown or a similar-caliber receiver is the best, most realistic course of action. -Matt Dolloff
Pats still linked to big-name receivers
Not entirely a free agency nugget, but tangentially related: Josina Anderson has heard that the Patriots have checked in on a potential trade for the Saints' Chris Olave, in addition to the Eagles' A.J. Brown. She also mentioned Romeo Doubs, who is on track to become a free agent.
If the Patriots want to add a true impact receiver, Doubs doesn't necessarily fit that bill. A trade for Brown or Olave would.
Patriots Free Agency Summary
Here's where the Patriots roster stands based on one day of free agent negotiations across the NFL.
Additions
FB Reggie Gilliam (3 yrs/$12M)
EDGE Dre'Mont Jones (3 yrs/$36.5M)
OG Alijah Vera-Tucker (3 yrs/$48M)
Departures
TE Austin Hooper (Falcons, 1 yr/$3.25M)
OT Vederian Lowe (49ers, 2 yrs/$12M)
LB Jahlani Tavai (Released)
DT Khyiris Tonga (Chiefs, 3 yrs/$21M)
Re-Signed
TE Jack Westover (Exclusive Rights Free Agent Tender)
Internal Free Agents
CB Alex Austin
EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson
OT Yasir Durant (RFA non-tender)
LB Jack Gibbens (RFA)
RB Antonio Gibson
S Jaylinn Hawkins
DT Isaiah Iton
OT Thayer Munford Jr.
RB Deneric Prince
DT Jaquelin Roy
