Returning to the Super Bowl in the upcoming year, but with a different outcome, won't be easy for the New England Patriots. However, they've positioned themselves well to remain at or near the top of the AFC — for the most part.
There's no denying that the Patriots have made some meaningful free agency moves, especially on offense. The additions of wide receiver Romeo Doubs and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker should make life easier for MVP runner-up quarterback Drake Maye. Yet, it's the turnover on the other side of the ball that has ESPN's Ben Solak skeptical.
Solak listed the Patriots as the NFL's sixth-most improved team based on several notable factors, including contract details/value and roster flexibility. He loved New England's "value plays," like Doubs and Vera-Tucker. Alas, there was concern about the "results of the defensive carousel," specifically surrounding two notable signings: safety Kevin Byard and pass rusher Dre'Mont Jones.
NFL analyst warns New England Patriots after free agency makeover
New England got older and slower in two key areas by pivoting from Jaylinn Hawkins and K'Lavon Chaisson to Byard and Jones, respectively. But above all, they lost continuity in a stop unit that was surprisingly elite in 2025. With that in mind, Solak believes the Patriots' roster turmoil could prove costly in more ways than one:
"The Patriots replaced Jaylinn Hawkins with a [Mike] Vrabel favorite in Byard, and I'm not sure betting on the 33-year-old to maintain his All-Pro form from last season is a reasonable alternative. And although Jones is certainly a step up from K'Lavon Chaisson in run defense, I think the Patriots will miss Chaisson's speed off the edge."
Gaining in experience and veteran leadership may come at the expense of youthful vigor for the Patriots. Hawkins and Chaisson were key pieces of the club's shockingly remarkable turnaround and are ascending talents in their primes. Despite remaining highly effective, Byard and Jones are aging players, so regression can hit at any point, as Solak alludes to.
Moreover, while it may be hard to squabble over Byard or Jones "in a vacuum," Solak is ostensibly cautiously optimistic. Neither appears to be slowing down anytime soon. Nevertheless, the analyst highlighted how "New England lost a lot of snaps from a defense that dramatically exceeded expectations in 2025, and that sort of shake-up can be tough to endure."