The New England Patriots will have some important decisions to make this offseason, and some of those decisions are set to be made in the coming weeks as they'll begin re-signing their own free agents. As it stands, six players are set to be unrestricted free agents, while contributors like Jack Gibbens (RFA), Alex Austin (RFA), and Jack Westover (ERFA) will also need their contracts tended to if Vrabel and company want them to return.
Of their six UFAs, one of the more intriguing players is K'Lavon Chaisson. After a career year in New England, where he finished with 7.5 sacks and an 11.5% pass rush win rate. He had an additional three sacks in the playoffs, two of which came in the wildcard matchup against L.A.
The 26-year-old's breakout year will earn him some real money. Contract projections haven't been tied to a specific number, with the floor around $10 million and some experts listing him as an $18 million-per-season player.
Despite his breakout, the Patriots will need to upgrade the edge. The team ranked 22nd in sacks during the regular season, and the bulk of their pressure during the playoffs came from the interior or via blitzes. Improving the edge is a must, and while paying Chaisson would set a strong floor, his limited production in his first five seasons is a concern, and he isn't likely to raise the ceiling.
The consensus has been that the Patriots will select an offensive lineman or edge defender in the first round, and in a recent mock from FanSided's Cody Williams, they stick to that trend. With the 31st pick, Williams has Oklahoma edge defender R Mason Thomas being selected by the Patriots.
R Mason Thomas could be the perfect pick for New England at No. 31
Williams suggests the Sooner could be exactly what the Patriots need to take the next step ahead of a 2026 campaign during which they'll look to return to the Super Bowl.
Thomas has been a productive pass rusher for the Big XII squad. He's had 15.5 sacks over the past two seasons, down to 6.5 in 2025 from his previous total of nine in 2024. He's also forced three fumbles in the last two years.
On 191 pass-rush snaps this year, Thomas had a 20.3% pressure rate, ranking 16th in the country (min. 190 snaps). He played in only 9 games this year after sustaining a quad injury while recovering a fumble and returning it 71 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee on November 1. He wouldn't return until Oklahoma faced Alabama in the first round of the playoffs, when their season would end.
The Patriots need help on the edge
The Patriots need juice up front. Milton Williams and Christian Barmore are one of the league's best interior duos, and the coaching staff has proven they can develop underrated and young defensive tackles.
The edge, however, has been more of a project. Harold Landry's injury slowed him down towards the end of the season, as he missed four of the Patriots' games after the bye and went sack-less in the playoffs. Chaisson is a pending free agent, as mentioned, while Anfernee Jennings, even if he isn't released, doesn't offer much as a pass rusher.
Elijah Ponder is a promising young player, but he isn't ready for a full-time role. Giving the now official DC Zak Kuhr another chess piece up front would be a fantastic idea.
Beyond Thomas, Williams has the Patriots selecting Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter and Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II in the second and third rounds, respectively. Trotter is a younger prospect, but was one of the best linebackers in the SEC last season, racking up 84 tackles and earning an 89.2 run defense grade from PFF.
Brazzell was second in the Power 4 in 20+ air yard receptions (13), and at 6-foot-5 is one of the country's best deep threats.
While Thomas, Trotter, and Brazzell would make for a very boom-or-bust style draft, they could give New England the ceiling they need to make it to the Super Bowl once again in 2026.