a quick look at 2026 FA

[Real fan 02]

And the new workout and player family center opens up this Spring, I think, so our facilities will not be abysmal as they are now.

That is right! Good points. It's just a new philosophy the teams taken and it's beneficial to the organization, the players and the fans..

 

[Real fan 02]

Sign Chaisson, Tonga, Hawkins and Gibbens…. none of them should get a ridiculous contract. Chaisson if he keeps on this torrid pace might.

Beyond those four Austin Hooper is getting old, they should look to bolster the TE position. No other free agent is a desperate signing and even these guys above are replaceable… even if it would be nice to have them back.

Agreed and it's a good thing to resign those guys.. they are all part of the culture now and moving forward. I see Hooper likely walking in FA.. Henry will resign, draft a guy and sign Pitts. I like the idea of Pitts in a McDaniels offense.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

From this list:
Linderbaum, Joel Bitonio, Breece Hall, Pierce, Doubs, Jakobi Meyers, Jaelen Phillips, Boye Mafe, Kwitty Paye, Quay Walker & Devin Lloyd.

ChatGPT says:

## My Take: **Who’s the Best*** **Top Pick for Pass Rush:** **Kwity Paye** — he’s consistent and productive.* **Highest Upside (if Healthy):** **Jaelan Phillips** — massive talent, but injuries make this a risk.* **Best All-Round Linebacker:** **Quay Walker** — for tackling and run defense.* **Sleeper / Developmental Piece:** **Boye Mafe** — still growing, could become really good.**Overall**, I lean toward **Kwity Paye** as the “best” among the four right now, because of his combination of production, health, and role.

Grok says:

Jaelen Phillips → Clear #1 when healthy and now thriving in Philly.​

1. Boye Mafe → Most consistent producer recently (15 sacks 2023–24 combined), high win-rate athlete.
2. Quay Walker → Very good every-down LB (100+ tackles), but position is less valuable than edge.
3. Kwity Paye → Solid run defender, but lowest ceiling/production among the edges.

If you’re asking purely about upside or “who would I rather have on my team right now,” it’s Phillips by a decent margin — especially with how he’s looked since the trade. If the question is fantasy/IDP, Walker leads in raw tackles, but for real-life NFL impact, give me the explosive edge who just terrorized the Packers in his Eagles debut.

I think Grok has the better analysis (and it is not even close).

 

[Real fan 02]

ChatGPT says:

## My Take: **Who’s the Best*** **Top Pick for Pass Rush:** **Kwity Paye** — he’s consistent and productive.* **Highest Upside (if Healthy):** **Jaelan Phillips** — massive talent, but injuries make this a risk.* **Best All-Round Linebacker:** **Quay Walker** — for tackling and run defense.* **Sleeper / Developmental Piece:** **Boye Mafe** — still growing, could become really good.**Overall**, I lean toward **Kwity Paye** as the “best” among the four right now, because of his combination of production, health, and role.

Grok says:

Jaelen Phillips → Clear #1 when healthy and now thriving in Philly.​

1. Boye Mafe → Most consistent producer recently (15 sacks 2023–24 combined), high win-rate athlete.
2. Quay Walker → Very good every-down LB (100+ tackles), but position is less valuable than edge.
3. Kwity Paye → Solid run defender, but lowest ceiling/production among the edges.

If you’re asking purely about upside or “who would I rather have on my team right now,” it’s Phillips by a decent margin — especially with how he’s looked since the trade. If the question is fantasy/IDP, Walker leads in raw tackles, but for real-life NFL impact, give me the explosive edge who just terrorized the Packers in his Eagles debut.

I think Grok has the better analysis.

Will he re-up with the Birds? Love to have him here...

 

[Real fan 02]

I feel Isaiah likely is a better bet than pitts and also more budget friendly .

Isaiah Likely vs. Kyle Pitts Sr. Stats | FantasyPros

View a side-by-side comparison of Isaiah Likely and Kyle Pitts Sr.. Quickly compare stats, fantasy rankings and points to find out which player is a better option in your fantasy football league.

www.fantasypros.com

 

[The Gr8est]

He's missed a total of 25-30 games the past 3 seasons. He's going to be 29 yo in 2-3 months. The Patriots are building for the future.

So Jaire Alexander in the Ty Law role picking off Matt Stafford in the Kurt Warner role?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Will he re-up with the Birds? Love to have him here...

I don't know. I am not a FA guy. Phillips would help a lot but might cost too much. Mafe would be OK, and might cost less.

Lots of LBs and Safeties in the draft. So my guess is OL and EDGE in FA. But who knows, the Pats look at hundreds of guys to find Chaisson and Tonga. I don't have time to look at so many guys.

 

[DaBruinz]

Thank you for your patience. My brain was not working.

Edit: wait, I cited the wrong metric. He has an average time to pressure of 2.65 which is below the average of 2.8. Marginal but still below average.

While it's below, if you ignore the fact that it happens just 2.3% of the time, then you're ignoring context.

 

[The Gr8est]

For our current roster, I prefer a TE with more blocking acumen. Double-H tries, bless him, but too often he loses his ass-ignment......

We just signed one!

Unfortunately it was only a one day contract and he retired after that.

 

[DaBruinz]

I feel Isaiah likely is a better bet than pitts and also more budget friendly .

Likely will likely be staying put in Baltimore.

 

[DaBruinz]

Assuming they address RT early in the draft, I'd love to see them get TE Kyle Pitts. As for the rest of FA, just re-sign our best, fill the holes and add depth with guys that "fit the system".

Free Agency comes before the Draft.

 

[captain stone]

Of course Cap my guy.. I believe Henry will stick around another few seasons.. he's 31.. draft a Guy and sign a difference maker like pitts in FA.. remember what Josh was able to do with Hernandez.. pitts possess similar skill sets..

But the Late Prisoner also had Gronk to do most of the in-line blocking...

 

[captain stone]

Pitts all day...

But if you sign Pitts, then you still have to sign somebody else to do the Real TE work.

 

[DaBruinz]

From this list:
Linderbaum, Joel Bitonio, Breece Hall, Pierce, Doubs, Jakobi Meyers, Jaelen Phillips, Boye Mafe, Kwitty Paye, Quay Walker & Devin Lloyd.

Hall doesn't pass protect.
Pierce has gotten worse in the receiving game since his rookie year. In fact, he's regressed across the board.

Bitonio is 34.

WTF is with you schlubs and wanting WRs?? Just say NO to both Meyers and Doubs.
Quay Walker is mediocre in coverage.
Devin Lloyd? Likely getting franchised.

Phillips would be a good addition. Mafe would be a consolation prize. Paye.. No thanks.

 

[DaBruinz]

Lindebaum would be a great free agent signing for the Patriots. The Ravens currently have 13 million in cap space, but have to sign Lindebaum, Travis Jones, and Isiah Likely. There are others but these are their big 3, and it looks very much like Lindebaum will hit the market.

The fact that the Ravens declined the 5th year option at 20.99M helps. Rumors that the two sides are far apart on a deal also helps.

I mentioned earlier that Lindebaum is likely going to want closer to the top of the market salary and listed that the top 5 centers make between 12M and 18M. So figure that Lindebaum is likely to want more than 15M/yr.. I think that Connor McGovern could be had for $10M-$12M and gives you very similar production.. Not to mention hurting the Bills.

 

[DaBruinz]

Boye Mafe & Walker..those are difference makers at edge.. Breece Hall I'm sure is chomping at the bit to get out of NY..

Why would you think that Quay Walker plays the EDGE? He's Green Bay's starting MLB.

 

[Wozzy]

Henry and Hooper are both getting up there, but both are still effective. Keep them, draft a young guy or bring a free agent like Likely.

I like CJ Dippre’s potential on the PS as a blocking TE, but they definitely need to invest here next offseason in the draft.

 

[Wozzy]

Agreed and it's a good thing to resign those guys.. they are all part of the culture now and moving forward. I see Hooper likely walking in FA.. Henry will resign, draft a guy and sign Pitts. I like the idea of Pitts in a McDaniels offense.

Pitts is hyper athletic, but thinks he’s a WR instead of a TE, so he never worked on the finer points of being a TE. If he had become a solid blocker, teams couldn’t focus on his one dimensional game and shut him down as easily as they do. At least Henry and Hooper give you effort as blockers. I’d look to the draft instead.

 

[TommyD4207]

But if you sign Pitts, then you still have to sign somebody else to do the Real TE work.

Same's true with Likely, but at least he tries to block.

Well enough to beat Andrews out for his starting job.

 

[captain stone]

I don't know. I am not a FA guy. Phillips would help a lot but might cost too much. Mafe would be OK, and might cost less.

Lots of LBs and Safeties in the draft. So my guess is OL and EDGE in FA. But who knows, the Pats look at hundreds of guys to find Chaisson and Tonga. I don't have time to look at so many guys.

The Pats as of today are not in desperate condition when it comes to the most expensive positions to fill in free agency: QB, LT, WR, DE, Outside CB... The only one of those where we could use somebody to step-in right-away and produce is DE; so I say, let's try to sign the best DE available when free agency opens and then use the rest of our FA Bucks on backups & less-expensive positions...

Two not-quite-as-premium positions that also need to be addressed are RG & LG or Center, depending on where they feel Wilson's best future position might be; and they need to be addressed before the May OTAs, whether via free agency or the draft or both...