The New England Patriots have made themselves one of the most attractive destinations for free agents in the entire league.
Between Drake Maye's quarterback play and Mike Vrabel's tutelage as head coach, it shouldn't come as a surprise that 2026 will be a huge opportunity for New England to further improve their squad.
While the free agent market features stars of its own, several teams could soon cut ties with players due to their excessive cap hits. Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine recently noted three players from each squad that could be cap casualties, and three players stuck out as potential Patriots.
The Patriots must grab these cap casualties before it's too late
TE Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
The Patriots love their two-tight-end sets. Austin Hooper, despite a down season production-wise, has seen a heavy share of the snap count. While he worked with Josh McDaniels in Vegas, finding an upgrade over him, or at least a long-term replacement through the draft, should be on New England's to-do list. Should Kmet become available, New England may opt for the former.
The former Notre Dame tight end had career lows in catches and yards in Ben Johnson's first season as the head coach. In hindsight, that shouldn't come as a surprise given the selection of Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft. His emergence toward the end of the season has led to a significant drop in Kmet's production and will likely result in his release.
Parting ways with the former second-round pick would save $8.4 million for a Bears team that sits nearly $20 million over the cap. The Patriots would have the opportunity to bring in Kmet, who's had 50+ catches in four of the last five seasons. He can contribute as a blocker as well, something McDaniels clearly values late in the season, as New England has relied on the run.
While I wouldn't expect home to break the bank, a contract similar to the one Evan Engram signed in Denver this past offseason seems fair: both tight ends are coming off a down year. Engram signed a 2-year deal worth $23 million, which would figure to be the range for a Kmet deal in New England.
WR Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Tyreek Hill has been mentioned as a likely cap casualty, but Pittman may be a more appealing option if they are both made available. Still only 28 years old, Pittman's rich contract has made him a probable candidate for release.
Pending free agent Alec Pierce is a player the Colts will want to retain, while they'll also need to re-sign Daniel Jones. Josh Downs, Tyler Warren, and superstar running back Jonathan Taylor are already pieces to the Indianapolis offense.
The Patriots certainly have an appreciation for big outside targets. Mack Hollins had a very productive season, while Kayshon Boutte was one of the league's best downfield threats. Tight end Hunter Henry, another big-bodied receiving threat, had the best season of his career.
There's a real possibility Stefon Diggs retires should New England win the Super Bowl. Even if Diggs is on the team in 2025, additions will still be needed. A.J. Brown is the dream, but the 6-foot-4 Pittman would be an effective intermediate threat for Maye on the outside.
Signing Pittman could also give the team the flexibility to potentially use their first-round selection on a receiver. Perhaps a slot option like Texas A&M's KC Concepcion?
SAF Jalen Ramsey, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Patriots' safeties have been impressive this season. Jaylinn Hawkins has broken out late in his career, while Craig Woodson has been a rookie standout. Despite their play on the back end, depth remains a shortcoming. Adding another high-quality defensive back would be huge, particularly if they can play multiple spots.
Jalen Ramsey fits that description perfectly. An All-Pro cornerback during his heyday, he moved back to safety this season with the Steelers, also playing a large share of his snaps as a slot corner. His tackling ability is well noted, as he's been one of the best cornerbacks in run defense during his career. It shouldn't come as a surprise, therefore, that his transition to safety was successful.
The Mike McCarthy era has begun in Pittsburgh, and there's a chance he makes major changes to reset an aging roster. Pittsburgh is sitting pretty with $37 million in cap space, but Ramsey's current contract is top-of-the-line money for a cornerback, let alone a safety. They could save all of his nearly $20 million cap charge by releasing him.
The Patriots could deploy Ramsey as an extra defensive back out wide, in the slot, or deep at safety. Christian Gonzalez has yet to play a full season in his career, while 2025 was the first time Carlton Davis managed a full slate of games.
Marcus Jones is one of the league's best slot corners, but given his height, he struggles in the red zone. Inking Ramsey to a one-year deal to ring chase would make plenty of sense for the Patriots.
The Patriots have the opportunity to further improve their roster from the 14-3, Super Bowl berth base they've created this offseason. While adding all three seems unlikely, Kmet, Pittman, and Ramsey would each make solid potential additions to the 2026 roster.