​The New England Patriots have used the 2026 offseason to aggressively upgrade the roster that powered an unexpected Super Bowl run earlier this year. With most of the NFL’s offseason program already in the books, the front office can take advantage of this extended pause to review their work so far and finalize plans to assemble a comparably competitive group ahead of training camp in late July. After surveying the key needs facing the team this summer, the conversation now shifts to identifying the best fits to fill those vacancies in Foxboro. Here are five free-agent targets the Patriots may pursue before they trim the roster to 53 players:
TE Pharaoh Brown. Projected 2026 AAV: about $1.01 million, per Spotrac. Brown, a 6’6”, 246-pound tight end, has mainly served as an in-line blocker across eight NFL seasons, including a one-year stint with the Patriots in 2023. That season, he backed Hunter Henry with 399 offensive snaps, 282 blocking snaps, a 73.3 overall offensive grade (PFF) and a 63.3 run-blocking grade. In the receiving game, Brown caught 13 of 15 targets (86.7%) for 208 yards, and he scored on a 58-yard reception against the Jets in Week 3. Over his career, Brown has 74 receptions on 98 targets (75.5%), for 752 yards (10.2 yards per catch) and three touchdowns, with an average offensive grade around 59.0 and a run-blocking grade near 63. The expectation for 2026 isn’t for Brown to become a major receiving threat in New England’s scheme, as the team aims to develop rookie Eli Raridon into a vertical threat; instead, Brown could offer valuable run-blocking depth and veteran versatility.
EDGE Jadeveon Clowney. Projected 2026 AAV: about $5.71 million. Clowney has had a long, storied career since being selected first overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Texans, with notable stops including the Seahawks and the Titans. His extensive experience as an edge defender could help bolster the Patriots’ pass rush and overall defensive front as they build for the 2026 season.