Patriots urged to move 2026 first-round pick to fix glaring weakness

"The New England Patriots will enter free agency as one of the teams with the most potential to improve. They're 10th in effective cap space with 12 draft picks in 2026, all while having a quarterback and star cornerback still on rookie contracts. New England's own free agents are fairly limited in respect to both quantity and cost. The team has just six unrestricted free agents, while Jack Gibbens and Alex Austin are notable restricted free agents. Fullback Jack Westover is an exclusive rights free agent."

"K\"Lavon Chaisson and Jaylinn Hawkins will be the team's most sought-after players in the open market. Chaisson will likely see a rich extension in the range of $10 million per season, while Hawkins is likely in the $7 million per year range. Free agency will no doubt be a time to supplement the defense, but the trade market could be where New England makes the most marquee move of the entire offseason."

"The Patriots could trade their first round pick for Maxx Crosby In a recent article, NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry suggested that New England could make a trade involving the No. 31 pick for Maxx Crosby, and from the Patriots' perspective, it makes too much sense. The Patriots may have picked in the top five over the past two seasons, but that isn't the case in 2026. New England holds the second-worst first-round pick, and using it as ammunition to make a move for a player like the former Eastern Michigan star would be an excellent move."

The Patriots enter free agency with significant resources, ranking 10th in effective cap space and holding 12 draft picks in 2026. The roster features a quarterback and a star cornerback still on rookie contracts, reducing immediate salary pressure. The team has six unrestricted free agents, with Jack Gibbens and Alex Austin as restricted free agents and Jack Westover as an exclusive rights free agent. K\"Lavon Chaisson and Jaylinn Hawkins are expected to attract the most open-market attention, with Chaisson projected near $10 million per season and Hawkins around $7 million. Free agency could supplement the defense, while a trade for an established pass rusher offers a higher-impact option.

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