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New England Patriots 2026 NFL Season Preview
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- New England Patriots 2026 NFL Season Preview
[Editor's note: The following article is from Athlon Sports' 2026 NFL Preview magazine. Order your issue online today , or grab a copy at newsstands and retail racks nationwide.]
It's no secret that the New England Patriots exceeded expectations last season. But that just means they have that much more to prove in 2026. While many of their top players will be returning, they also lost some key talent during free agency as well as adding some additional depth. However, the Patriots still have the cornerstones of their team, with head coach Mike Vrabel leading the way and quarterback Drake Maye manning the pocket. And if Year 1 is any indication, this duo is a true recipe for success.
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The Patriots dealt with a lot of talk about strength of schedule last year, and that will once again be a part of the conversation, but this time it's at the opposite end of the difficulty spectrum. The Patriots face off against several playoff teams, including a Super Bowl LX rematch with the Seattle Seahawks . There are also games against the Chicago Bears , Detroit Lions , Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars , just to highlight a few.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Unlike last year, New England didn't make many major splashes in free agency, instead bringing in mostly depth pieces. However, there were exceptions — safety Kevin Byard III , who was named first-team All-Pro last season for the third time in his career. Romeo Doubs is another key arrival after tallying 55 catches for 724 yards and six touchdowns with the Green Bay Packers last year.
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Offense
Drake Maye . That's the main name that comes to mind when one thinks about the Patriots' offense. In his second season in the league, Maye put together an MVP-caliber season, finishing as runner-up to Matthew Stafford for the honor. And it was his first year spent working with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in a new system, too. Going into the 2026 season, Maye will have had an entire offseason to refine his skills and gain comfort with the offense; now, the hope is that he will take that next step and become a consistent MVP threat. Tommy DeVito will serve as Maye's backup, and New England also brought in rookie Behren Morton to fill the third spot that opened up when the team released Joshua Dobbs .
As for Maye's targets, the addition of Doubs fills that veteran void that opened up with the release of Stefon Diggs , with Kayshon Boutte , Mack Hollins , DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams also having provided significant contributions last season.
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Maye still has one of his favorite targets in tight end Hunter Henry . The team let Austin Hooper walk in free agency and drafted Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon to serve as Henry's backup.
(Editor's note: After the Athlon Sports 2026 NFL Preview magazine went to press, the Patriots acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles .)
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (32).Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The running back position remains unchanged from last season, as the Patriots still have Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson leading the way. The team did release veteran Antonio Gibson , but that doesn't change the outlook much, considering he was sidelined for most of the 2025 season after tearing his ACL. Rookie Jam Miller is expected to be at the top of the list to fill Gibson's role on the depth chart. One of the most exciting additions is Reggie Gilliam , as McDaniels finally brings in a true fullback.
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After years of offensive line struggles, the Patriots seemed to have found a groove last year, with a stable lineup starting each week outside of a few injuries. Morgan Moses took over at right tackle, with Mike Onwenu at right guard. Garrett Bradbury was at center, with rookie Jared Wilson at left guard and the team's 2025 first-round pick Will Campbell at left tackle. Four of the five are returning this season, but Wilson will slide back to center, as Bradbury was traded to the Bears, and the team signed guard Alijah Vera-Tucker to play on the left side.
Defense
Terrell Williams began the 2025 season as defensive coordinator but stepped away after the team announced in September that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Outside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr took over for Williams and was officially promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2026 season, with Williams moving to assistant head coach. (Editor's note: It was reported in late January that Williams was declared cancer-free; he traveled with the team to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX.)
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Up front, Milton Williams and Christian Barmore proved to be a dynamic duo, with Williams often living up to Vrabel's "big dogs eat in January" mantra throughout the postseason. Harold Landry III led the team in sacks during the regular season and will be back and possibly better than ever, having had time to recover from his knee injury. K'Lavon Chaisson was next on that list but signed with the Washington Commanders in free agency. New England replaced him by signing Dre'Mont Jones as well as drafting Gabe Jacas (Illinois) in the second round.
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) intercepts a pass.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Inside linebacker and captain Robert Spillane , who also dealt with an ankle injury last season, is back after avoiding offseason surgery and spending a lot of time around the facility the past few months to come back stronger.
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The secondary remains the same, with New England having picked up cornerback Christian Gonzalez 's fifth-year option in hopes of signing him to a long-term deal. Carlton Davis III will hold down the other side. At safety, Craig Woodson had a promising rookie season, but after losing Jaylinn Hawkins in free agency, the Patriots brought in veteran Byard, the league leader in interceptions (seven) last season and someone who will provide veteran leadership.
Specialists
Placekicker Andy Borregales and punter Bryce Baringer are expected to hold down the fort, with gunner Brenden Schooler back as well. The Patriots drafted long-snapper Julian Ashby last season to replace Joe Cardona and also signed free agent Niko Lalos . Marcus Jones will remain the team's top punt returner, but kickoff returner is a bit more of a question, with Efton Chism III , Kyle Williams and Henderson all having helped the team in that department last season. It will be an interesting battle to monitor, as some surprising players can earn a roster spot by making an impact on special teams.
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Final analysis
The Patriots put a major emphasis on adding depth pieces this offseason, which can certainly come in handy during the long and grueling NFL season. Last season, New England remained fairly healthy, but nobody knows what will happen at any time, making the "next man up" mentality essential.
After a trip to the Super Bowl, expectations are high for the Patriots, and it will be crucial for organizational momentum to maintain that level of success. That's not to say it's Super Bowl or bust, but the Patriots have returned to elite status, and that's a reputation that the organization wants to keep.
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All eyes will be on Maye, who must follow up his incredible 2025 performance by taking another step forward. And then there's the defense, a unit that had a slower start than the offense but one that found its groove as the year went on and now has a hard-earned reputation for physicality and aggressiveness.
Related: Athlon Sports 2026 NFL Preview Magazine Now Available
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
