PATRIOTS FREE AGENTS: Jack Gibbens (RFA)
NOTABLE EXTERNAL FREE AGENTS: Germaine Pratt IND, Quay Walker GB, Nakobe Dean PHI, Quincy Williams NYJ, Devin Bush CLE, Devin Lloyd JAX, Kaden Elliss ATL, Alex Anzalone DET.
POSITION ANALYSIS: Robert Spillane, Jack Gibbens, Christian Elliss, and Jahlani Tavai were a solid off-the-ball linebacking corps in 2025. Spillane was limited by an ankle injury down the stretch, and Gibbens did a good job stepping into the primary playcalling duties. Elliss continued his two-year trend of improvement, using his speed to make an expanding impact, while Tavai added an element of size and ability to shift out to the edge.
With Spillane, Elliss, and Tavai back, this doesn't appear to be a huge position of need for free agency, however, like the defensive line, bringing back the one restricted free agent, Gibbens, would make a lot of sense. Gibbens' connection to Mike Vrabel, that runs back to Tennessee, as well as his marked improvement down the stretch and into the playoffs, make Gibbens an easy candidate for re-signing. The Patriots would have to consider what level to tag Gibbens, or they could consider a multi-year deal and bypass the tagging process.
It's also fair to wonder if the team could look to make a splash next to Spillane. Devin Lloyd and Nakobe Dean are entering their prime and looking for lucrative free agent deals. Lloyd is a bigger player who grabbed five interceptions in 2025. He has 436 total tackles since entering the league in 2022. Dean is smaller but is quick to diagnose, enabling him to make plays. He fell off after a 128-tackle season in 2024 and was limited to just 10 games in 2025 but he still set a career high with four sacks. If the Patriots wanted to get younger and make an investment at linebacker, Lloyd and Dean could both bring playmaking ability.
However, other positions should probably take priority in free agency. With some intriguing prospects coming out of college, the long-term needs at the position might be better addressed in the draft. It's a common theme on the defensive side of the ball in free agency.
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
