After a heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl LX, the Patriots can now look ahead to the offseason and start planning how to approach free agency next month. They are fortunate that most of their current roster is under contract for the 2026 season, but they will have some big decisions to make about who should stay and who should come back.
Looking at the names of those hitting the free agent market in just a few weeks, it's beyond clear who the priorities should be and why.
The good news is they should be able to bring back some of their best talent at a good price that won't break the bank, which is incredibly important given the 2026 season is their last full year with Drake Maye on his rookie contract.
3 Patriots' free agents that should be re-signed during the 2026 offseason
S Jaylinn Hawkins
Perhaps the most important player heading to free agency that the Patriots should not even consider letting walk is safety Jaylinn Hawkins. A fourth-round draft pick by the Falcons in 2020, he has spent the last two years in New England and put together the best seasons of his career.
That is particularly true in 2025, as he recorded 71 combined tackles, three for a loss, four interceptions, six passes defended, one forced fumble, and 1.5 sacks in 15 games and was on the field for 86% of the season's defensive snaps.
This one-handed INT from Jaylinn Hawkins 🤯 pic.twitter.com/tmtHP6IpKL
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 28, 2025
Serving a more prominent role in the secondary this year made him one of the best defenders on the roster, and he's expected to hit free agency with a lot of interest from teams around the league. But the Patriots shouldn't let any team even make an offer because he's become that valuable.
DT Khyiris Tonga
Another under-the-radar signing from this past offseason was defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, who became an integral part of their run-stopping, which was a bright spot of their defensive line for much of the season.
During the three games he missed in the regular season, opposing running backs had far too easy a time making big plays, making Tonga's return that much more important. On top of that, he was a go-to addition on certain plays offensively, working as a bonus offensive lineman, and they certainly could've used him more in that way against the Seahawks.
Because of his versatility, there are plenty of reasons to bring him back. Although he might have interest from other teams, the Patriots should be able to re-sign him to a good but reasonable deal.
OT Vederian Lowe
If, at the beginning of the 2025 season, someone said Patriots fans would be hoping Vederian Lowe returns the following year, it would be difficult to believe it wasn't a joke.
The offensive tackle was a source of much frustration throughout 2024, mainly because of his struggles at left tackle. But because he was able to serve as a backup this year, filling in nicely for Campbell during his stint on injured reserve, there's a lot of upside to keeping him around for another season or two.
Because he's probably not considered a starter to most teams, the Patriots should have it easy to bring him back, and his performance in Campbell's place showed he earned the right to stay. He's a formidable backup, and since there are a lot of questions surrounding the rookie's future on the left side, it would be best to keep a veteran like Lowe around to help out.