Coming off a Super Bowl appearance meant the Patriots had a lot of work to do during the offseason to keep that momentum going and improve their roster for the 2026 season.
They didn't have the same cap space to work with as they did one year ago, which certainly prevented them from making more blockbuster moves, but they still managed to sign some top-tier talent who were expected to elevate the roster to a new level.
That was true for both the offense and the defense, and through 9 games so far, it's difficult to argue they made any big mistakes with who they chose to bring in.
Other than the injury bug making its way through the team, most of the free agents they signed have delivered on the purpose they were signed for, making the team's objectives much easier. But there are still some lingering concerns that will need to be put to bed after the bye week.
Free agent check-in: Some new Patriots players are exceeding expectations, while others are not
Kevin Byard isn't living up to the hype so far
Although the Patriots didn't make as big a splash in free agency this year as they did in 2025, they still signed several top players who generated a lot of excitement upon joining the team.
Among the most notable was veteran safety Kevin Byard III, who played for Mike Vrabel with the Titans from 2018 until he was traded in 2023. That connection and familiarity certainly helped him land with the Patriots, along with an impressive season with the Bears, where he recorded 7 interceptions returned for 91 yards and 8 passes defended.
The hope was that he would bring that kind of production to Foxboro, but after 9 games, he hasn't come close. He has just one interception and 3 passes defended to this point, and he gets beat by opposing receivers a bit too much for the defense's liking.
There's still time for him to turn things around, and the Patriots will need that given the rest of their schedule, but right now, Byard hasn't lived up to expectations.
Dre'Mont Jones has been better than the stat sheet shows
Perhaps the most overlooked free-agent signing this past year was Dre'Mont Jones, who also had a connection to Vrabel, as did several of his new teammates.
He was brought in to lead the pass rush alongside Harold Landry while also mentoring the rookies and other less experienced players. But with Landry still on the Physically Unable to Perform list going into Week 10, Jones has had to take on an even bigger role, and he's been far better than his stat sheet suggests.
In fact, he brings a lot of pressure to opposing quarterbacks, already recording 22 through 8 games, which is more impressive when you see how often he is double-teamed. Jones has also been incredibly helpful as a run defender, something the defense did well last year, and he's helped keep that going.
After Week 9, he ranks 23rd among 109 qualified edge defenders with a pass-rush win-grade of 73.2 by Pro Football Focus, and has recorded 17 combined tackles, 2 for a loss, 5 quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks.
Considering the Patriots were widely criticized for signing him and expectations were low for what Jones would do this season, he's been a phenomenal addition that could be the biggest difference-maker for the defense this year.
Romeo Doubs and Alijah Vera-Tucker will be eligible to return after the Week 11 bye
The offense has dealt with far more than its fair share of injuries so far this season, which worsened when Romeo Doubs, Drake Maye's WR2, and Alijah Vera-Tucker, the starting left guard, went down with injuries that landed them on IR.
It was a major hit to an already struggling group, and in their absence, they have only struggled more.
With one game separating the Patriots from their Week 11 bye, there is a good chance a number of injured players, like Doubs and Vera-Tucker, could return to the field for their primetime game against the Chargers in Week 12.
That's when they're both eligible to return, but the severity of their injuries isn't well known, and neither is how likely they are to return as soon as they are technically allowed. The hope is that they can, but we'll have to wait for more updates from Mike Vrabel.
Until then, at least we know that Doubs looked well on his way to bouncing back from a rough debut, and Vera-Tucker was holding down the left side of the offensive line tremendously well with Will Campbell.
Reggie Gilliam might have a worse injury than we initially thought
It was one of the least shocking signings when the Patriots brought in fullback Reggie Gilliam this offseason, mostly because Josh McDaniels has historically loved utilizing that position much more than most do around the league.
Even better was knowing that they stole him from the Bills, who had hoped to re-sign him, only for him to sign with the enemy instead.
The offensive line and passing game certainly needed his skill set, but he suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 against the Bills in Week 4 and has been on injured reserve ever since. Vrabel hasn't provided many updates on his status, even though he was eligible to return this past week.
Because he should play a crucial role for the defense down the stretch, it wouldn't be surprising if they hold off on activating him until after the bye, as seems to be the plan with A.J. Brown, and hopefully that's what they're planning to do.
Otherwise, his injury might be worse than they initially reported, and that would be a devastating development for an offense that could really use his help right now.
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