If it wasn't bad enough for the NFL to see the Patriots back in the Super Bowl this year, they surely can't be happy about the latest increase to next season's salary cap and how much money that will give New England to continue building an even better roster.
They went into the 2025 offseason with the most available cap space to spend, and they accomplished that with some very notable signings, including DT Milton Williams and WR Stefon Diggs, both of whom have made a tremendous impact on their success this season.
Now, with the latest projections estimating teams will have in the range of $301.2 million to $305.7 million when the new offseason begins, which ultimately gives the Patriots around $42.6 million to work with in free agency, and that's before making any adjustments to current contracts or releasing any players.
It's a nightmare scenario for a league that thrived during the Patriots' irrelevance over the last five years, as it gives them another advantage over the rest of the league.
There's a good chance that the Patriots will be right back in the saddle in 2026
Although there is doubt surrounding their chances to win the Super Bowl next week, there is plenty to believe that they will have a much easier time signing players this upcoming offseason, and not just because they'll have their recent Super Bowl appearance to entice those they need, but also because they'll have the money to pay them.
Robert Kraft wasn't closed off to the idea of spending last year, which allowed Mike Vrabel and Co. to sign the caliber of talent the roster needed across all areas, ultimately leading to their impressive postseason run.
Now that they'll have more money to play with, thanks to a championship run, they won't have to overpay players to get them in the door, creating more opportunities to sign more talent and make their team even more dominant.
That's what they'll need if they want to keep their Super Bowl window open as long as possible, especially with the Bills and Dolphins undergoing massive changes this offseason, with Buffalo hoping to push them to the side and regain the divisional crown next year.
Fortunately, the Patriots will have recent success on their side, more importantly, a Super Bowl appearance, and whether they leave Santa Clara with the Lombardi or not, players will want to play in Foxboro for a chance to get back there.
That will inevitably make the 2026 offseason even more fun to watch unfold.