Free agency is right around the corner and the New England Patriots have already got things started with an external signing and free agent visit. As the legal tampering window opens on Monday, the real activity is set to begin for a team with close to $60 million in cap space.
So before the fun begins, let’s get into this week’s #PostPulpit Mailbag.
Do you think going after Alec Pierce, let’s say at around 25-28mil a year and cutting Diggs is smart? I think he fits way more of what Maye does down
the field and is only 25, can build with Maye long term. Also you have KW (hopefully year 2 leap) and Pop who can play slot for you. Then this still allows you to take a swing at another high upside receiver on day 2 or 3 in the draft. – jordsmith87
It seems like Alec Pierce is set to hit the open market, and the Patriots should be all-in.
While Pierce might not be a household name — leading to some expected Christian Kirk-like sticker shock for many when he signs his free agent deal — he has been the best deep ball wide receiver the past two seasons. Over that stretch, he has led the league in yards per target, yards per reception, and explosive reception rate. In 2025, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on just 47 receptions and 84 targets.
Through that success, there appears to be another level Pierce can unlock in his next stop. Beyond leaving a run-first Colts team with Jonathan Taylor in the backfield, Pierce has been hampered by poor quarterback play/stability throughout his career (catching passes from nine (!) different QBs in his first four seasons). He also has shown the ability to run a more diverse route tree rather in addition to his success vertically. In a bigger role with more volume, Pierce could truly take off — a similar projection the Patriots took when giving Milton Williams a hefty contract at his position last year.
There’s no better place then New England to unlock that ceiling for Pierce. Pairing the 6-foot-3, 25-year old with 4.4 speed, who is again the best deep ball receiver in the league, with Drake Maye, the best deep ball thrower in the league, is a match made in heaven. And with wide receiver now being perhaps the Patriots biggest need on the roster it should be a no-brainer.
Pierce might agree as he listed what he’s looking for in his next team on the Up And Adams Show on Wednesday, which included: QB play/stability, franchise stability, and a winning culture. Again, it’s a match made in heaven.
If I remember correctly, Kyle Williams coming out of the draft was not necessarily a pure outside/X receiver. If we play pretend and say we sign Alec Pierce, with Pierce, Boutte, and Hollins playing the outside, could Williams’s role shift to becoming more of a slot receiver using his speed on in-breaking routes and short area targets to utilize his speed for YAC purposes? Is this a possible outcome or just pure fan projection? – LandenPatz1
Williams spent the majority of his time out wide for Washington State, but there were some projections that would move him inside in the NFL due to his frame/play strength. While he largely played out wide as a rookie and adding muscle is the goal for the 23-year old this offseason, I think his skillset would excel in a role similar to Diggs — where he could even provide more verticality within the route tree.
Williams needs to also improve as a route runner (something also on his offseason to-do list), but his release package, YAC ability, and overall speed would make him a threat in that role, while also having the versatility to slide back to the X spot when needed. As a big fan of Williams in the draft last year, there is a lot of hope there still, personally,
Will they take a WR in the first two rounds or try and get a player like Alec Pierce in free agency? If they go WR in free agency, they could then target Defense or a young TE. – Jacyob
I wouldn’t rule out adding in both free agency and the draft. If they sign Pierce (or acquire another outside X receiver), positive internal development could lead to Williams, and even Efton Chism III, being the secondary upgrade. But with the risk of relying on two second-year players, there is a strong case for adding another pass catcher in addition to the big fish. Considering the first addition would come with a significant financial investment, it would be safe to assume the second would come via the draft.
Considering we have a lot of money to play with, albeit not nearly as much as last year, what do you project the ideal FA spree to look like? – LandenPatz1
Signing Pierce would be the start. From there I would look at a strong free agent class of edge rushers (that includes K’Lavon Chaisson) and veteran offensive guards as my other main investments. Those would be the top positions, which would be supplemented by a safety (retaining Jaylinn Hawkins remains a possibility) and a tight end.
Choose one free agent, one trade, and one draft pick each to headline the offseason. Which 3 players do you target and why? – Sportzballer
Sign: Alec Pierce. Trade: Jonathan Greenard. Draft: Dillon Thieneman.
For as talented of an edge rusher as Greenard is, I don’t love giving up draft capital for the 28-year old with the amount of options available in free agency and the draft. But, it felt like he was the best non-WR trade candidate (A.J. Brown or Brian Thomas Jr.) remaining after I signed Pierce, in addition to being cheaper than Maxx Crosby, who feels Chicago-bound. Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman is then a personal favorite in the draft process. He’s a tremendous athlete whose skillset and versatility projects fit perfectly into the Patriots defensive scheme. However, his Combine performance might have secure top-25 status at minimum.
The Pats had several under the radar FA signings last year who were both contributors and fan favorites (Tonga, Hollins for sure). Anyone in the lower tier FA you are predicting will have similar effect this year? – spyponder90
There’s a few low-tier free agent we’ve profiled as free agent fits over the last week that we like. At tight end, Baltimore’s Charlie Kolar and New York’s Daniel Bellinger would be big in-line additions with some untapped receiver ability. On defense, Atlanta’s Arnold Ebiketie could be this year’s version of K’Lavon Chaisson along the edge. Seattle’s Coby Bryant would then be a good fit in the secondary if the Patriots look elsewhere at safety from Hawkins.
If the Pats don’t select an Edge Rusher at #31, the big board doesn’t leave them with a lot of assurance that a quality prospect will be available at the end of Rd2 and more so by Rd3.
With that said, would it not be wiser to allocate most of the cap resources towards Free Agent Edge Rusher/s available?Seems like bringing Chaisson back and signing one of Trey Hendrickson, Bradley Chubb, or Odafe Oweh would really free up the options in the War Room on draft day, especially with those premium Day 1 & 2 picks. – Sdceltsfan
I disagree with the view of edge rushers that will be available on day two of the Draft. It’s a deep and talented class at that position, something both Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf alluded to at the Combine. Talented options should be available especially around pick No. 62.
That wouldn’t stop me from adding and/or upgrading at the position in free agency, however. Retaining K’Lavon Chaisson or upgrading with a top of the market option like Jaelan Phillips in addition to a draft pick would be the preference. New England internally views edge as the biggest hole on their roster, so a double (or even triple) dip shouldn’t be ruled out.
That’s all for this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag. If you have questions you’d liked to be answered next week, submit them online in our weekly submission post or on Twitter using #PostPulpit. Make sure to be following @iambrianhines and @PatsPulpit as well.
