"The New England Patriots had an active 2025 offseason, spending the most in free agency of any team and selecting 11 players in the NFL Draft. 10th in effective cap space and owning 12 selections in the 2026 draft, they may be one of the league's more active teams once again. While cap space and draft capital are no issue for New England, the NFL may make a rule change that could give them even further capital to play with."
"In other words, New England would be allowed to trade their first-round picks in 2026, '27, and '28 in a trade for Myles Garrett, but could not make a move involving any picks in 2029. On the Pat McAfee Show, Adam Schefter suggested that teams may seek to extend the limit from three years to five, giving the league the flexibility to trade draft picks in 2030 this offseason."
New England entered 2025 with heavy offseason activity, leading the league in free-agent spending and selecting 11 players in the NFL Draft. The roster sits 10th in effective cap space and holds 12 selections in the 2026 draft, providing substantial flexibility. The NFL is considering extending the limit on how far teams can trade future draft picks from three years to five years, which would allow trading picks as far forward as 2030. That change would enable the Patriots to either trade multiple future first-rounders during Drake Maye's rookie deal to acquire a star like Maxx Crosby or to monetize their second-worst 2026 pick by accepting others' future picks.
Read at Musket Fire
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]