Three Patriots Free Agents New England Failed to Replace
The New England Patriots made plenty of changes in Mike Vrabel's second year as head coach. Vrabel's overhaul of the roster continued. Only 11 players on the current 53-man roster were here in 2024 before Vrabel arrived.
The Patriots made it to the Super Bowl in Year One of Vrabel's rebuild—but it is still a "rebuild."
Every year there are players that come and go. There is always turnover. The focus goes on the new players that will be suiting up.
Do you hear anybody talking about Stefon Diggs anymore?
No.
The attention has all been on A.J. Brown since his arrival.
But it is not, primarily, the arrival of star players like A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs that leads to team success—although it certainly helps. Just as important are the depth signings.
New England lost several contributors from last year's Super Bowl team, and while none would be considered a superstar, three departures in particular left holes that don't appear to have been adequately filled.
1. K'Lavon Chaisson, Edge Rusher
Prior to last season, many around the NFL had already given up on 2020 first-round pick K'Lavon Chaisson.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Chaisson 20th overall, but he never came close to living up to that draft position. In four seasons with Jacksonville, Chaisson recorded just five sacks before the Jaguars decided to move on.
Then something changed.
During his lone season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, Chaisson began showing signs that maybe the former first-round pick wasn't finished developing. Over a five-game stretch late in the season, he recorded four sacks and forced a fumble.
Maybe not everyone noticed.
Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf apparently did.
The Patriots signed Chaisson, and he finally blossomed in New England. He recorded a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2025 while adding 18 quarterback hits and 74 pressures—the latter tied for 11th in the NFL.
Chaisson also made it very clear that he wanted to stay.
Appearing on Up & Adams with Kay Adams on January 30, just days before the Super Bowl, Chaisson practically campaigned for another contract:
“Call the guys and tell them I’m trying to come back. Don’t play. Tell them I’m trying to be here.”
The Patriots didn't feel the same way.
Chaisson eventually signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Washington Commanders.
Now New England has to replace those 7.5 sacks, and suddenly the decision to let him walk looks considerably more questionable.
The Patriots knew they needed more help on the edge when they traded up in the second round of April's draft to select Gabe Jacas.
Problem solved, right?
Not yet.
Jacas underwent a procedure on his knee after the draft and missed the Patriots' entire offseason program, including OTAs and mandatory minicamp. At the same time, contract negotiations dragged on throughout the summer.
Jacas became the final second-round pick in the entire NFL Draft to sign when he finally agreed to his rookie contract on July 25.
Even then, he wasn't ready to practice.
Jacas didn't participate in his first Patriots practice until August 1.
That means a rookie who is being counted on to help replace Chaisson entered September having practiced with the Patriots for barely a month.
The talent is unquestionably there. But expecting Jacas to immediately replace the production of a veteran who had 7.5 sacks last season always seemed optimistic. Missing virtually the entire offseason made that expectation even less realistic.
Then came the Harold Landry injury.
Landry led the Patriots with 8.5 sacks last season but will begin 2026 on the PUP list and must miss at least the first four games. He is also 30 years old and coming off an injury serious enough to keep him out throughout training camp.
When will he return?
And when he does, how effective will he be?
That leaves New England opening the season with free-agent addition Dre'Mont Jones and Elijah Ponder as its two most experienced healthy edge defenders.
Ponder was one of the great surprises of last season. After going undrafted in 2025, he emerged as a legitimate NFL pass rusher.
The Patriots better hope that wasn't a fluke.
Behind Jones and Ponder are two rookies—Jacas and seventh-round pick Quintayvious Hutchins.
Hutchins himself was considered somewhat of a surprise to make the opening-day roster, beating out 2025 fifth-round pick Bradyn Swinson.
And despite all the uncertainty, New England didn't add another proven pass-rushing edge after roster cuts.
Maybe Jacas develops quickly. Maybe Ponder takes another step forward. Maybe Landry returns after four games and looks exactly like the player he was last season.
That's a lot of maybes.
Chaisson wasn't a superstar. He wasn't even the Patriots' sack leader.
But he was a proven pass rusher coming off the best season of his career, he wanted to stay in New England, and the Patriots let him leave without having a proven replacement ready to take his place.
Of all the Patriots' offseason departures, this is the one they may regret the most.
2. Khyiris Tonga, Defensive Tackle
Tonga was such a pivotal piece to the Patriots defense last year.
His effectiveness didn't show up in the box score—it rarely does for nose tackles. He finished last season with only 24 tackles and no sacks. But that wasn't his job.
At 338 pounds, conservatively, Tonga filled the gap between Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. He was the Patriots' primary run stuffer, recording 15 run stuffs while using his massive size and strength to clog running lanes and occupy blockers.
Tonga also spent time at full back on offense on certain goal line and short yardage situations.
Tonga is a just a born leader. His enthusiasm for the game was a breath of fresh air.
The Patriots, however, chose not to re-sign him and he is now in Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes.
The Patriots rush defense has looked shaky this preseason, especially during the joing practices with the Philadelphia Eagles and Saquon Barkley.
The Patriots' defense gave up 133, 90, and 166 yards rushing in each of the three preseason games, respectively. They gave up 4.4 yards per carry. The Patriots gave up 4.2 yards per carry in 2025.
Granted it is a small sample size, but I fear the gap will get larger when the sample size gets bigger.
The Patriots are counting on Cory Durden to fill Tonga's massive shoes. Durden is listed as 33 pounds lighter than Tonga—but the "eye test" tells me Durden is easily 40+ pounds lighter.
There has been a lot of speculation of the Patriots signing free agent DaQuan Jones. On paper, Jones would fill the void of Tonga's departure. Jones is much closer in weight and strength to Tonga than Durden is.
New England brought Jones in for a free agent visit on August 18. Jones even played for Vrabel in Tennessee.
But there must be some reason Jones is not in New England already, which means he likely won't be.
Remember Tonga while the Patriots are chasing after James Cook, De'Von Achane, Jahmyr Gibbs, Kenneth Walker III, and Breece Hall.
3. Jack Gibbens, Linebacker
Speaking of stopping the running game of opponents, we have the loss of inside linebacker Jack Gibbens.
Gibbens' loss will be felt if and when Robert Spillane and/or Christian Elliss miss time.
Spillane missed four games in 2025. Elliss missed 2.
Even when Spillane and Elliss were healthy, Gibbens found his way onto the field a lot. Gibbens proved to be reliable. He played in every game last season—regular season and playoffs. He started in eight games during the regular season and also started in the Super Bowl.
And he was effective. He finished the regular season with 71 tackles, eight for loss, one sack, four passes defended, and a forced fumble. He was also pivotal on special teams, finishing with 10 tackles there, too.
Gibbens signed with Arizona this offseason.
The Patriots signed K.J. Britt hoping he would be Gibbens' replacement, but Britt struggled during camp. Britt was released shortly after making the 53-man roster to make room for Muasau, but he has since rejoined the Patriots on the practice squad.
New England claimed Darius Muasau this week off waivers, and it looks he will slot right away into the top backup inside linebacker role.
K.J. Britt was brought in to replace Gibbens, but Britt was unimpressive in camp and in preseason games.
For a short time, that left 2026 sixth-round draft pick, Namdi Obiazor, as the primary backup to Spillane and Elliss. The Patriots clearly saw a depth problem there and went out and signed Darius Muasau and rookie Erick Hunter.
It feels like the Patriots are scrambling to find one Jack Gibbens out that group of four.
Honorable Mention: Austin Hooper, Tight End
Hooper wasn't a major part of the Patriots offense, but he came up with some big catches and it felt like Drake Maye trusted him.
Hooper finishing with 21 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
Hooper was a steady veteran who complemented starter Hunter Henry well. Hooper wasn't exceptional at any one thing, but he could block and catch well enough.
Hooper's experience is what will be missed.
Rookie Eli Raridon currently sits behind Henry on the Patriots depth chart, followed by undrafted free agent Tanner Arkin.
The Patriots also claimed Cameron Latu from the Eagles—but he is mostly a special teamer. Latu was not targeted once in 103 offensive snaps last year.
Raridon is very promising and he looked real good at the start of camp—before the exhibition games rolled around. Since then, Raridon has appeared overmatched and it is obvious he needs a year in the weight room.
Raridon may eventually become a better player than Hooper. But that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be a better No. 2 tight end in September 2026.
With the wide receivers the Patriots have, tight end shouldn't have to be too important in the passing game.