What is the story about?
TEAM
TALK
- Patriots updated Free Agent Tracker and Mock Draft Tracker.
- Roster Moves: Patriots announce free agent signings.
- Evan Lazar finds Patriots coaches ‘ecstatic’ about reuniting with All-Pro S Kevin Byard in free agency; The secondary is one of the best in the NFL after adding the league’s interceptions leader.
- Press Conference: Eliot Wolf. (15 min. video)
- Media Availability: Romeo Doubs, Kevin Byard, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Dre’Mont Jones, Reggie Gilliam.
- Highlight: Get to know S Kevin Byard III from the man himself. (1.13 min. video)
- Patriots Unfiltered: Analyzing Patriots free agency moves, best free agents available, Draft talk. (2 hours)
LOCAL LINKS
- Ethan Hurwitz resets the Patriots roster after the start of free agency.
- Karen Guregian considers what is the Patriots missing piece: A.J. Brown? Maxx Crosby? Stefon Diggs?
- Karen Guregian hears from Eliot Wolf on if there is a deadline where the Patriots would drop out on A.J. Brown. “I think the only real deadlines you have are salary-cap related,”
- Doug Kyed tells us everything we learned from Eliot Wolf: Potential Patriots trades, Stefon Diggs return?
- Andrew Callahan notes Pats new left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker anticipates being cleared for voluntary practices during OTAs next month and intends to attend the start of the offseason program on April 20.
- Karen Guregian spotlights how the Drake Maye-Romeo Doubs connection has already started to take shape. “I spoke with Drake. He’s an amazing person to be around. I love his personality…”
- Ethan Hurwitz talks about how the Reggie Gilliam signing brings promise back to the fullback position.
- Alex Barth explains how Alijah Vera-Tucker fits into the Patriots’ offensive line.
- Karen Guregian talks with safety Kevin Byard about what drove him to the Patriots: A reunion with Mike Vrabel and a chance for a championship.
- Sara Marshall notes LB Dre’Mont Jones summed up why he signed with the Pats in two words: “Vrabel and winning.”
- Alex Barth posts the new uniform numbers for the Pats’ free agent signings.
- Mark Daniels says Eliot Wolf refuted the single-unnamed-source report that Tom Brady prevented Maxx Crosby trade to New England.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Alijah Vera-Tucker deal includes $4.25 million in per-game roster bonuses — per year. “It’s the largest per-game roster bonus we’ve ever seen, by far… There’s no precedent to compare it to.“
- Albert Breer (SI) Free Agency Notes: Evaluating the Kyler Murray deal in Minnesota; Plus, how the Raiders and Maxx Crosby are moving forward, and the best bargain free agent signings so far.
- Matt Okada (NFL.com) Smartest/riskiest free agent signings and trades in opening wave of moves.
- Garrett Podell (CBS Sports) Five lessons from first wave of NFL free agency: Maxx Crosby drama, J.J. McCarthy uncertainty, RB market surge. 3. Raiders, Titans follow Patriots’ blueprint.
- Matt Bowen (ESPN) 2026 NFL free agency: Ranking best players still available.
- Patrick MacAvoy (SI-Philadelphia Eagles) Eagles-AJ Brown trade still ‘in play’ as Patriots deny deadline.
- Nick Shook (NFL.com) Jaguars GM discusses ‘fraudulent’ WR Brian Thomas Jr. trade rumblings.
- Around the League (NFL.com) Every team’s full set of 2026 NFL Draft picks.
- Jimmy Traina (SI) Dispelling arguments against the NFL playing a game on Thanksgiving Eve.
- Conor Orr (SI) The NFL is to blame for the environment that caused the Maxx Crosby mess. /Both Belichick and the Patriots were severely punished for Belichick’s interpretation of the league’s rules and bylaws. Goodell described what the Pats did as a “calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid long-standing rules designed to encourage fair play.” Wouldn’t what the Ravens did fall under the same category that so upset the Commissioner?
