Patriots Rumor Tracker / FA Signings (Updated: Signings in OP - 4/7)

[PatsFan2]

Wouldn't necessarily say Boutte is gone. Doubs deal is likely structured with all the guarantees in years 1 (2026) and year 2 (2027). He's likely easy to release with little dead money ahead of 2028 and the cap hit in 2026 (this year) is likely low. Boutte will likely sign the same type of deal next year, so his 2027 cap number would be low before jumping in 2028. At that point, they could cut Doubs to make room for Boutte. Or, if Doubs is the more desirable guy to keep in an either-or, they could trade Boutte assuming his 2028 salary isn't unreasonable because WRs are always in demand (and unless he totally BOMBS in 2027 or has a major injury I can't imagine he wouldn't be movable in 2028).

Point is, they can keep Boutte after signing Doubs and still be able to move on from 1 before the cap hits are ever both high enough such that cumulatively it would be too much for #2 and #3.

I don't see it: that would be too much $$$$ tied up in WR's. We would still have KW on Rookie deal for two more years: and you have to think this is Barefoot's last year: so we would have to get a replacement.

 

[TommyD4207]

I only said there are similarities between the two. And there are. All you have to do is look at their play. Byard had a very solid season last year. He's unlikely to fall off the map. And even a little drop off won't be anywhere close to the bad play we got from Hawkins last year.

He was an all-pro.
Something McCourty never was after 2016.

 

[mike_usagisan]

IF A.J. Brown is in our plans goodbye Kayshon Boutte in FA 27. That said: A.J. Brown - R Doubs - K Boutte - KW and Barefoot would be a Excellent WR Room this season. Pop Douglas is the odd man out unless he miraculously *not holding breath* learns to play the Slot.

So maybe you include Boutte in the trade if he's not in our long-term plans.

 

[PatsFan2]

Wouldn't necessarily say Boutte is gone. Doubs deal is likely structured with all the guarantees in years 1 (2026) and year 2 (2027). He's likely easy to release with little dead money ahead of 2028 and the cap hit in 2026 (this year) is likely low. Boutte will likely sign the same type of deal next year, so his 2027 cap number would be low before jumping in 2028. At that point, they could cut Doubs to make room for Boutte. Or, if Doubs is the more desirable guy to keep in an either-or, they could trade Boutte assuming his 2028 salary isn't unreasonable because WRs are always in demand (and unless he totally BOMBS in 2027 or has a major injury I can't imagine he wouldn't be movable in 2028).

Point is, they can keep Boutte after signing Doubs and still be able to move on from 1 before the cap hits are ever both high enough such that cumulatively it would be too much for #2 and #3.

Let me make this clear I think Romeo Doubs is very good WR; who works well with others. That said Doubs would be lethal with A.J. Brown drawing coverage. I just don't like our current WR Depth chart with him being at the Top.

 

[TommyD4207]

Let me make this clear I think Romeo Doubs is very good WR; who works well with others. That said Doubs would be lethal with A.J. Brown drawing coverage. I just don't like our current WR Depth chart with him being at the Top.

Naw, come on, I changed my avatar and everything, you can't backtrack already.

 

[PatsFan2]

So maybe you include Boutte in the trade if he's not in our long-term plans.

I would we already have KW true X and Doubs is way better in the intermediate routes.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I don't see it: that would be too much $$$$ tied up in WR's. We would still have KW on Rookie deal for two more years: and you have to think this is Barefoot's last year: so we would have to get a replacement.

My point is that it wouldn't be too much money tied up in WRs for 2026 or 2027 because Boutte's cap hit would be low and by the time it's an issue in 2028 Doubs would be easy to release.

There would be no need to replace Hollins. You started this off with a scenario where we get AJ Brown. If we have Doubs and Boutte signed to go with KWilliams on a rookie deal, no need to spend money to replace Hollins. So for 2026, you have all of them which is fine because Doubs cap hit is low and Boutte's so cheap. Cumulatively, that's fine money to spend for #2 and #3. Then in 2027, it would again be a fine amount because Boutte's cap hit would be low. Then in 2028 it would be too much but Doubs should be easy to release by then.

 

[PatsFan2]

Naw, come on, I changed my avatar and everything, you can't backtrack already.

I have an open mind Tommy: I see Vrabel's vision with A.J. Brown in the fold.

 

[Steve102]

 

[PatsFan2]

My point is that it wouldn't be too much money tied up in WRs for 2026 or 2027 because Boutte's cap hit would be low and by the time it's an issue in 2028 Doubs would be easy to release.

There would be no need to replace Hollins. You started this off with a scenario where we get AJ Brown. If we have Doubs and Boutte signed to go with KWilliams on a rookie deal, no need to spend money to replace Hollins. So for 2026, you have all of them which is fine because Doubs cap hit is low and Boutte's so cheap. Cumulatively, that's fine money to spend for #2 and #3. Then in 2027, it would again be a fine amount because Boutte's cap hit would be low. Then in 2028 it would be too much but Doubs should be easy to release by then.

You're thinking Boutte is coming cheap: he was having a Monster year before the concussion slowed him down. With A.J. Brown in the fold *possibly* the Defense can't cover everybody either Doubs or Boutte will be open. Ever since he entered the league Romeo Doubs have been very consistent so I don't see any downside for him here. He's here for a while.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

You're thinking Boutte is coming cheap: he was having a Monster year before the concussion slowed him down. With A.J. Brown in the fold *possibly* the Defense can't cover everybody either Doubs or Boutte will be open. Ever since he entered the league Romeo Doubs have been very consistent so I don't see any downside for him here. He's here for a while.

I don't think Boutte will be "cheap" overall. I just have seen enough NFL contracts to predict that when he signs his new deal next year the CAP HIT is going to be low for year 1 of it. Just like I expect Doubs to have a low cap hit this year despite his $17M/year deal once those numbers come out.

All I am saying is that I think Brown/Doubs/Boutte would be financially viable for 2026 and again in 2027 if they re-sign Boutte. Come 2028, it would not be and they'd have to make a choice to let one go either through release or trade. Hence I don't think adding Brown after signing Doubs would mean we have to say goodbye to Boutte like you originally argued.

 

[borisman]

He was an all-pro.
Something McCourty never was after 2016.

That's why some people who are concerned with Byard's some big drop off need to chill. Pats are not paying him like an all-pro.

 

[DaBruinz]

"Meaningfully" improved is somewhat subjective. Not sure exactly what your threshold is for meaningfully.

On the OL, it's Bradbury out, AVT in. Obviously a huge upgrade in caliber of player with health. But also a massive health risk that would leave us with Ben Brown starting, who couldn't beat out Bradbury this year. It also feels like Wilson should be better this year at C than he was at LG, but that's somewhat speculative. The depth, as of right now, is worse with Lowe gone and Munford unsigned.

FB is obviously better, but it's a lesser position. None of us can honestly say improving at FB is on an even playing level with other positions. So it goes back to the subjectivity of "meaningful".

Last year, the Pats used the FB on just 22% of their plays. I fully expect that to jump to 35-40%. Just like I expect Hill to be on the field upwards of 50% of the time. I expect a significant turnaround on running plays, Short-yardage situations and goal line with them on the field. I would expect an increase in play-action as well as designed QB runs with Gilliam and Hill reading the way.

I think it's fair to say none of these are "meaningful" improvements, but there's lots of small, incremental improvement. The question is whether that's cumulative enough to be meaningful. The other key factor would be how the improvement of players on the roster (usually from young guys) weighs against guys on the team who decline (usually old guys, which we have very few of). For instance, it's possible Jared Wilson makes a huge leap this year and really improves the interior OL but Moses shows age related decline and/or Onwenu just comes in fat like he did a couple years ago and it's net decline even with a leap. Also have to see what they get out of the draft.

I think claiming that none of them are "meaningful" improvements is BS and speaks volumes about the lack of understanding of the game. On offense, it's clear that the Pats are going to focus even more on the running game. This will open up the Passing game for Play-action and for deeper passes after they've suckered the defense closer to the line. This will benefit the likes of Williams and Boutte.

Gilliam is a top 3 FB in the league and a huge upgrade over Westover. Westover, though learning the position, was wholly inadequate. Hill's attitude is that he wants to be the best blocking TE in the league. He LIKES beating on DTs, DEs and LBs. He's a much better blocker than Hooper and easily replaces Hooper's receiving totals from last year.

Meaningful improvement doesn't mean the team has no questions to be answered. It means that they've made changed that we'll see on the field going forward.

 

[DaBruinz]

Of course I asked Josina Anderson to explain of why the trade can't happen "it'll happen in the next week", or whatever she said over a week ago. Crickets. And no one else in the replies had an explanation either. We wasted a lot time on here as well debating the trade (should we trade our first or not) when a lot of people knew it was unlikely to go down before June.
I forget who the poster on here was who explained perfectly of the cap ramifications if it went down before June 1st. The trade partner would have had to meet Philly's asking price for that to even be considered.

The trade has to happen before the 3rd day of the league year because of the OPTION bonus that Brown is due. If it happens before the option bonus, then the NEW TEAM takes the option bonus hit and not the Eagles. If the Eagles make the deal AFTER the option bonus is paid but before June 1st, then the Eagles have that Option bonus amortization hit their cap THIS YEAR. If they wait until AFTER June 1st, the 27.7M option bonus amortization hits as part of the 2027 cap.

 

[DaBruinz]

Let's give this guy a boost, since he DID win a game for us with that blocked FG.

He's close to 7500 followers now.

 

[Ian]

Just transferred over everything to the OP from the tracker page:

Thread 'Patriots Rumor Tracker / FA Signings (Updated: Signings in OP - 4/7)'

Mar 9, 2026

I put these together last week to help keep track of things:

Following 2026 Patriots Free Agency, Latest Player Rumors | PatsFans.com

As we have in the last few years, we'll be following this year's 2026 Patriots Free Agency signings and rumors, with this year's Patriots Free Agents page now available.

www.patsfans.com

2026 Patriots Free Agents: Player Signings, Departures

The Patriots' 2026 free agency tracker details player signings and departures. Stefon Diggs and Antonio Gibson have been released, with others pending.

www.patsfans.com

The top link is the one I'll be continuing to update as rumors come out and things unfold. The bottom one will be when credible reports on transactions actually happen.

Hopefully, that will make it a little easier to keep track of, and definitely looking forward to seeing how this all plays out this week.

---

...

• Ian

 

[borisman]

He's close to 7500 followers now.

He was just over 6K when I posted it

 

[TheRainMaker]

For those worried about Byard's decline, one only has to look at our own Devin McCourty and see the similarities between the two.
DMac lasted until 35 and could have played longer. It wasn't a big drop off for him after age 31 and he also never missed games because he didn't have to be physical like an in the box safety so his body didn't take a beating and he didn't lose much range.

No, he definitely couldn't have played longer and we we calling for his retirement for a while. McCourty fell off a cliff in his last few seasons with the team and posters that were attending the games were noticing his slow reaction time to plays. Once you saw it for yourself, you couldn't unsee it. It was like the Pop Douglas tripping.

Even thought Byard led the NFL in INT's and made All Pro/Pro Bowl, I was shocked to find out he gave up 7 TD's like Hawkins and had a 98 QB rating when thrown at. Also gave up 545 yards.

 

[borisman]

I think we will add more to our Edge and TE group in the next week.
I'm thinking Ebiketie and maybe Njoku. I know everyone hates this but Goedert is not off the table.
Neither of them will cost much so not much *****ing about either of them, right? lol

 

[DaBruinz]

I think we will add more to our Edge and TE group in the next week.
I'm thinking Ebiketie and maybe Njoku. I know everyone hates this but Goedert is not off the table.
Neither of them will cost much so not much *****ing about either of them, right? lol

I don't think they'll add to either position prior to the draft. I think that O-line (OG & OT) and Cornerback is where we'll see additions in Free Agency.