After three weeks of free agency frenzy, it's now at the point where the new signings, especially big ones, are few and far between. The Patriots didn't make as big a splash this year as in 2025. However, there are still rumored moves they could consider, particularly as star players become potential cap casualties as the season approaches.
That's where the Patriots could fill their biggest roster holes, with the most significant one being their tight end room. Hunter Henry is set to continue his role as the go-to guy, and it looks like the team believes new signee Julian Hill can be the next man up, but they're lacking a serious threat in the receiving game.
A player to keep an eye on is Bears' Cole Kmet, who is considered a potential cut candidate before the start of the 2026 season by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report.
If there is any chance of Chicago moving on from their star tight end, the Patriots need to be on the phone immediately and get him to Foxboro.
If Cole Kmet becomes available, the Patriots should be the first ones on the phone
Although it seems unlikely that the Bears would willingly cut a player who has been consistently productive since they drafted him in the second round in 2020, Knox cites their high spending this offseason, forcing them to make some tough decisions, and Kmet might be on the chopping block.
Not only that, but they added Colston Loveland last year, and he was the clear TE1 for Caleb Williams, so that could make it a bit easier to cut Kmet and elevate Loveland in his place.
"The issue for the Bears is that they spent heavily while turning over their 29th-ranked defense. After adding the likes of Neville Gallimore, Coby Bryant, Devin Bush, and Jack Sanborn, Chicago is left with a league-low $1 million in effective cap space.
If the Bears can't work out a restructure or find a trade partner for Kmet, they can save $9 million by releasing him after June 1. If Chicago can add some depth behind Loveland over draft weekend, releasing Kmet would make a good amount of financial sense."
Because Julian Hill is considered more of a blocking tight end than a pass catcher like Henry, adding Kmet into the mix makes a lot of sense. He's more of the receiver-type that the Patriots are likely looking for, and he's proven he can be reliable in that way for the Bears over the past six years.
He's just 27 years old with a lot of potential left to unlock, and he could learn even more by pairing up with Henry. He could ultimately become his successor, making him even more valuable for the Patriots, so it's something they should, at the very least, consider if the Bears make him available.
That doesn't mean they shouldn't explore other upgrades, too, since the possibility of Kmet becoming a free agent won't be happening any time soon.