a quick look at 2026 FA

[Huckleberry1]

This isn't the Belichick era. Do you know of a College FB who is as good as Lampe that is coming out this year? Larison had made the team up until his injury. Vrabel has shown that he's willing to invest the time/effort into players. Westover is a perfect example.

This is, by no means, a guarantee. Considering that neither Lampe nor Larison have been given an Injury Settlement, that tells me that the Pats are likely going to wait until after the Draft before making a decision on either of them.

I expect both Lampe and Larison to be in camp competing for spots on next years roster.

 

[Toofy]

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...

Bang on @captain stone .

This is the same thought I had. Get Myles garrett for edge help and get Wilson into center and get LG and RG through high draft picks or best available free agent. We might resign onwenu at lower cap .

Safety should be come better next season as Hawkins and woodson become more polished and experienced .

So LG in first two rounds along with edge and possibly RT or stud FS if any falls to our lap in draft would be ideal.

 

[Real fan 02]

For me, I pay little attention to UFA's until we see who is available. Many will be extended by their teams.

For me, the focus has always been the decisions with regrad to our own, who is re-sign, and who is not creating holes. I would re-sign then all (or give them a tender), but that's just me.
Chaisson
Tonga
Hawkins
Hooper
Gibbens (RFA)
Brown (RFA)

Re-signing them all would produce a great start for thr 2026 team, considering that we possibly aren't losing anyone in free agency.

All those players you mentioned want to be here and are Vrabel guys. The all have been solid this season and should be re signed.

 

[Real fan 02]

Bang on @captain stone .

This is the same thought I had. Get Myles garrett for edge help and get Wilson into center and get LG and RG through high draft picks or best available free agent. We might resign onwenu at lower cap .

Safety should be come better next season as Hawkins and woodson become more polished and experienced .

So LG in first two rounds along with edge and possibly RT or stud FS if any falls to our lap in draft would be ideal.

At safety Hawkins has really improved and he will likely remain on a team friendly deal.. hence none of our pending FAs are guys that will break the bank.. they are all IMO easily attainable..

We will draft a Safety of course.

 

[Real fan 02]

Kyle Pitts would be very interesting here on a 2 or 3 year deal. They need to be mindful that González is probably getting a new deal in the offseason too. If a WR1 shakes free then pursue it. But I’d look at Pitts, Edge Rushers, and then build line depth in the draft.

This. I've been posting about Pitts. Talented, WR skills as a TE..and just hasn't lived up to his draft billing. However Give me the "talents " of Pitts all day.... Pitts with Drake and JMD would give LBs fits. Offer Pitts a 3 yr 24M deal.. I say..

 

[TommyD4207]

This. I've been posting about Pitts. Talented, WR skills as a TE..and just hasn't lived up to his draft billing. However Give me the "talents " of Pitts all day.... Pitts with Drake and JMD would give LBs fits. Offer Pitts a 3 yr 24M deal.. I say..

 

[Real fan 02]

Tommy when we sign KP..

 

[Huckleberry1]

This. I've been posting about Pitts. Talented, WR skills as a TE..and just hasn't lived up to his draft billing. However Give me the "talents " of Pitts all day.... Pitts with Drake and JMD would give LBs fits. Offer Pitts a 3 yr 24M deal.. I say..

Yep, nothing like a soft as a jelly donut TE to bolster this team. And he's got skills, he just doesn't use them, but that will magically change if he comes to New England.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I would take Cade Otten over Pitts 10x out of 10x.

 

[Toofy]

I would take Cade Otten over Pitts 10x out of 10x.

That guy is a stud. No way Tampa allows him to leave.

 

[Huckleberry1]

That guy is a stud. No way Tampa allows him to leave.

I haven't checked their cap and free agency situation, but I would guess that you will be right.

 

[Joey007]

I haven't checked their cap and free agency situation, but I would guess that you will be right.

Tampa never lets anyone leave. They really have a heavy run it back philosophy.

 

[Huckleberry1]

That guy is a stud. No way Tampa allows him to leave.

Yep. Tampa Bay has 35 million in cap space, Otten should be no problem for them to re-sign.

 

[upstater1]

I'm interested in this safety for the Steelers #29. Not only did he have multiple passes defensed and made a couple of hard tackles, but he returned an interception for 73 yards for a TD. He's a player. Also a free agent.

 

[mgteich]

I hope Dippre sees playing time this season. He has good size for blocking and can catch. I hope he puts it together.

Edit: On a similar note: FB Lampe (6'1" 250) should be ready to go for next off-season. Can't wait to see him block. I think McD was fairly disappointed when he got hurt.

And Lampe would be the first UDFA to come off IR in his rookie year to be a serious contributor since?

 

[Zuma]

And Lampe would be the first UDFA to come off IR in his rookie year to be a serious contributor since?

James Rittenhouse Develin, Jr.?

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I mentioned his name before but watching EaglesLB Nakobe Dean running with Gibbs on coverage… sign that guy.

 

[mgteich]

James Rittenhouse Develin, Jr.?

???

James Develin - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

As far as I can see, Develin was NOT put on IR during his first year or his second. The patriots signed him to our Practice Squad in Develin's third year (2012) and he was elevated late in the season. In 2013, he competed and became a contributor at FB.
==========
I will clarify. I think that it is very unusual for an UDFA player to spend his entire first NFL season on IR and then become a serious contributor.

I certainly hope that Lampe and Larison are exceptions to the general rule.

 

[signbabybrady]

???

James Develin - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

As far as I can see, Develin was NOT put on IR during his first year or his second. The patriots signed him to our Practice Squad in Develin's third year (2012) and he was elevated late in the season. In 2013, he competed and became a contributor at FB.
==========
I will clarify. I think that it is very unusual for an UDFA player to spend his entire first NFL season on IR and then become a serious contributor.

I certainly hope that Lampe and Larison are exceptions to the general rule.

Kyle Eckel came to mind. UDFA FB in 2005. We cut him. I forget if we cut him for skill or if Navy commitments got in the way. But after we cut him Mia would claim him and put him on the reserved military list for his first year. And he eventually got a second stint with us and I believe he played 3 seasons in the NFL between us, Philly, and the Saints.

If I remember correctly Eckel had some battles with Vrabel in one on one blocking drills though it easily could be any LB but for some reason I seem to remember it being Vrabel.

 

[Huckleberry1]

That guy is a stud. No way Tampa allows him to leave.

While we were singing his praises it turned out that no Tampa TE had scored a touchdown all season.