The Patriots have been quite busy so far in free agency, and they are likely not done making moves yet.
The New England Patriots did not waste any time tapping into their league-leading salary cap space once the NFL’s legal tampering period opened on Monday. They made seven total additions, including big-money signings Milton Williams and Carlton Davis.
Those acquisitions, plus other moves made by the club, helped patch a few of the holes on the roster. Free agency is still young, though, and there are some intriguing players left even with the first wave of pickups in the books.
Patriots remaining free agency targets to watch
FB Patrick Ricard: Once Kyle Juszczyk’s release from he San Francisco 49ers becomes official, he too would make sense in this spot. Heading into Day 2 of legal tampering, however, let’s focus on who is actually available at this point — including Ricard. A Massachusetts native who went to college in Maine, he is a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro who would fit in well with a Josh McDaniels offense.
OT Cam Robinson: The Patriots already signed one tackle, Morgan Moses, to help shore up the right side of the line. The left remains unaddressed, meanwhile, with Robinson as the most attractive target available. His connection with Patriots O-line coach Doug Marrone, who was his head coach in Jacksonville for four years, makes him an obvious target. The 29-year-old will not bring the highest ceiling but a floor high enough to be an upgrade over New England’s current personnel.
OL Nick Harris: Mike Vrabel spent the 2024 season as a consultant in Cleveland, spending extensive time with the offensive line group in particular. Harris, who started two games as a backup center, was part of that group. While it remains to be seen whether or not he would be suitable for a role that extends beyond second-string status, he would be a familiar acquisition to bolster the depth behind David Andrews at a relatively low cost.
OL Teven Jenkins: The Chicago Bears are rebuilding their interior offensive line, and Jenkins is likely headed elsewhere as a result. Originally a tackle, the 2021 second-round draft pick has since developed into a versatile starting guard — one who spent last year under ex-Bears interim offensive coordinator and now-Patriots assistant Thomas Brown. This, plus his experience and positional flexibility makes for a player who looks like a fit in New England.
OL Dillon Radunz: Another player with a preexisting connection to Mike Vrabel, Radunz was a second-round draft pick by the Vrabel-led Titans in 2021. He has started games at left tackle, left guard, right guard and right tackle over the course of his career, and while he projects primarily as an interior player, his experience and 6-foot-6 frame suggest he might also be a candidate to return to tackle.
DT Levi Onwuzurike: The connection between Onwuzurike and the Patriots is obvious: new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was his position coach with the Detroit Lions last season and him bounce back big-time after two straight challenging seasons. Even though New England already opened the checkbook to sign Milton Williams to a massive four-year, $104 million deal, adding Onwuzurike would still make sense to further bolster the depth up front.
ED Azeez Ojulari: A second-round draft pick in 2021, Ojulari has dealt with injuries throughout his career. Despite not eclipsing 500 total snaps in a season since his rookie year, however, he has still managed to post post 22 career sacks. Add the fact that he was coached by current Patriots linebackers coach Zak Kuhr in New York last year, and you get a player worth keeping an eye on.
ED Za’Darius Smith: Speaking of connections to the Patriots coaching staff, Smith worked with both Terrell Williams and outside linebackers coach Mike Smith over the course of his career. While already 32, he is coming off a productive season as a rotational pass rusher in both Detroit and Cleveland.
S Justin Reid: Reid has shown plenty of versatility during his last three years in Kansas City, and could fill several roles in the New England secondary. Where he might be of most use, however, would be as a centerfield safety the likes of which the team has not really had since losing Devin McCourty to retirement. Jaylinn Hawkins was moved to that role in 2024, but he remains a free agent who lacks the pedigree of a player like Reid.
Obviously, the open market features potential targets of all shapes and sizes at various positions across the board — including some who spent 2024 with the team. All we know at the moment is that the Patriots have only just started building their roster, and that some more investments should be expected on Tuesday.
If so, the players listed here would make sense for the team.