2026 New England Patriots season

The 2026 season will be the New England Patriots' 57th in the National Football League (NFL), their 67th overall, their third under de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and their second under head coach Mike Vrabel. The Patriots will look to match or improve on their 14–3 record from the previous season and become the first team originating in the American Football League to reach 600 lifetime wins.

Source: Wikipedia

Article

2026 New England Patriots season

Roster changes

Unrestricted

<table><thead><tr><th>Position</th><th>Player</th><th>2026 team</th><th>Date signed</th><th>Contract</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>LB</td><td>K'Lavon Chaisson</td><td>Washington Commanders</td><td>March 13, 2026</td><td>1 year, $11 million</td></tr><tr><td>S</td><td>Jaylinn Hawkins</td><td>Baltimore Ravens</td><td>March 12, 2026</td><td>2 years, $10 million</td></tr><tr><td>TE</td><td>Austin Hooper</td><td>Atlanta Falcons</td><td>March 12, 2026</td><td>1 year, $3.25 million</td></tr><tr><td>OT</td><td>Vederian Lowe</td><td>San Francisco 49ers</td><td>March 12, 2026</td><td>2 years, $9.25 million</td></tr><tr><td>OT</td><td>Thayer Munford</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>DT</td><td>Khyiris Tonga</td><td>Kansas City Chiefs</td><td>March 12, 2026</td><td>3 years, $21 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

Restricted

<table><thead><tr><th>Position</th><th>Player</th><th>2026 team</th><th>Date signed</th><th>Contract</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>CB</td><td>Alex Austin</td><td>Miami Dolphins</td><td>March 12, 2026</td><td>1 year, $1.22 million</td></tr><tr><td>QB</td><td>Tommy DeVito</td><td>New England Patriots</td><td>TBC</td><td>2 years, $4.4 million</td></tr><tr><td>OT</td><td>Yasir Durant</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>LB</td><td>Jack Gibbens</td><td>Arizona Cardinals</td><td>March 16, 2026</td><td>2 years, $7.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>DT</td><td>Jaquelin Roy</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Exclusive Rights

<table><thead><tr><th>Position</th><th>Player</th><th>2026 team</th><th>Date signed</th><th>Contract</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>DT</td><td>Isaiah Iton</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>RB</td><td>Deneric Prince</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>FB</td><td>Jack Westover</td><td>New England Patriots</td><td>TBC</td><td>1 year, $1.075 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

Signings/waiver claims

<table><thead><tr><th>Position</th><th>Player</th><th>Previous team</th><th>Date signed</th><th>Contract</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>LB</td><td>Jesse Luketa</td><td>Los Angeles Rams</td><td>March 05, 2026</td><td>1 year, $1.145 million</td></tr><tr><td>S</td><td>Mike Brown</td><td>Tennessee Titans</td><td>March 12, 2026</td><td>1 year, $1.315 million</td></tr><tr><td>S</td><td>Kevin Byard</td><td>Chicago Bears</td><td>1 year, $7 million</td></tr><tr><td>WR</td><td>Romeo Doubs</td><td>Green Bay Packers</td><td>4 years, $68 million</td></tr><tr><td>FB</td><td>Reggie Gilliam</td><td>Buffalo Bills</td><td>3 years, $10.8 million</td></tr><tr><td>TE</td><td>Julian Hill</td><td>Miami Dolphins</td><td>3 years, $15 million</td></tr><tr><td>LB</td><td>Dre'Mont Jones</td><td>Baltimore Ravens</td><td>3 years, $36.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>OG</td><td>Alijah Vera-Tucker</td><td>New York Jets</td><td>3 years, $42 million</td></tr><tr><td>LB</td><td>K.J. Britt</td><td>Miami Dolphins</td><td>March 16, 2026</td><td>1 year, $1.4025 million</td></tr><tr><td>LS</td><td>Niko Lalos</td><td>New Orleans Saints</td><td>1 year, $1.005 million</td></tr><tr><td>OT</td><td>James Hudson</td><td>New York Giants</td><td>March 23, 2026</td><td>1 year, $1.4025 million</td></tr><tr><td>CB</td><td>Kindle Vildor</td><td>Tampa Bay Buccaneers</td><td>1 year, $1.4025 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

Releases/waivers

<table><thead><tr><th>Position</th><th>Player</th><th>Date released/waived</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>RB</td><td>Antonio Gibson</td><td>February 23, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>WR</td><td>Stefon Diggs</td><td>March 11, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>LB</td><td>Anfernee Jennings</td></tr><tr><td>LB</td><td>Jahlani Tavai</td></tr><tr><td>QB</td><td>Joshua Dobbs</td><td>March 23, 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>

Trades

• March 11 – Center Garrett Bradbury was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a (/wiki/2027NFLdraft) fifth-round selection.

Draft

<table><thead><tr><th>Round</th><th>Selection</th><th>Player</th><th>Position</th><th>College</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>31</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>63</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>125</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>From Bears via Chiefs</td></tr><tr><td>131</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>171</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>191</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>From Chiefs</td></tr><tr><td>198</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>From Vikings via Texans, Vikings and 49ers</td></tr><tr><td>202</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>From Steelers</td></tr><tr><td>212</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>224</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Preseason

2026 New England Patriots season

The Patriots' preseason opponents and schedule will be announced in the spring.

Regular season

2026 opponents

Listed below are the Patriots' opponents for (/wiki/2026NFLseason). Exact dates and times will be announced in the spring.

<table><thead><tr><th>Category</th><th>Home</th><th>Away</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Division opponents (AFC East)</td><td>Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins New York Jets</td></tr><tr><td>Conference opponents (AFC West)</td><td>Denver Broncos Las Vegas Raiders</td><td>Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Chargers</td></tr><tr><td>Conference opponents (based on 2025 division placement)</td><td>Pittsburgh Steelers</td><td>Jacksonville Jaguars</td></tr><tr><td>Interconference opponents (NFC North)</td><td>Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings</td><td>Chicago Bears Detroit Lions</td></tr><tr><td>Interconference opponent (based on 2025 division placement)</td><td>No game</td><td>Seattle Seahawks</td></tr></tbody></table>