The Patriots went into the 2026 offseason fortunate not to have many of their top players headed for free agency, which was especially crucial after the unexpected success they achieved in what had been projected to be another forgettable year.
As we saw, that wasn't the case, and while they didn't win the Super Bowl against the Seahawks, their efforts were noteworthy, particularly the defense.
They were the strongest group the team had assembled in many years, becoming the focal point of their wins for much of the 2025 season. A big reason for that was their most impressive free-agent signings, including, but not limited to, Khyiris Tonga, who took over the defensive line and the efforts to stop the run to record highs.
He was a major part of holding opposing running backs to fewer than 100 yards in a game for a solid portion of the season, with many of those backs considered top players at the position. Because of that, Patriots fans hoped he would be retained for the upcoming season and beyond, only to see him sign a 3-year, $21 million deal with the Chiefs instead.
He's now set to become a primary focus of Kansas City's defensive attack against an ever-evolving running-back roster in the AFC West, and he's already impressing his new team, further proving that the Patriots should have kept him around.
Khyiris Tonga continues to show exactly why the Patriots shouldn't have let him sign with the Chiefs
Because Mike Vrabel and his defensive staff were able to elevate the Patriots defense from one of the worst in the league to one of the best in such a short time, it seemed obvious that keeping that roster together would lead to more success in 2026.
Tonga was a clear extension candidate, particularly since he had an under-the-radar season, carving out a role for himself on the defensive line for the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately, the Patriots didn't necessarily view him that way, as Vrabel has stated they wanted to keep Tonga but weren't willing to match or top the offer he received from the Chiefs. While that's understandable to an extent, it's a hard concept to swallow given just how integral he had become in stopping the rushing attack last year.
Now he's expected to do that in a division that is going to be led by Broncos' J.K. Dobbins, Raiders' Ashton Jeanty, and Chiefs' Kenneth Walker III - all of whom will be explosive on game day.
Kansas City fans are already anointing him as the solution to that growing problem, based on his recent success with the Patriots and what they've already seen from him during the offseason, and it's certainly going to be something New England will miss when they take the field this fall.
It probably won't take long to see that it was a mistake not to re-sign Tonga, as he will inevitably have a standout season with the Chiefs. That makes them an even bigger threat in the AFC, and that's far from what a team like the Patriots needs with their Super Bowl window remaining open.
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