New England Patriots NFL Free Agency tracker
It's officially 2025 in the NFL, as the new league began at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The New England Patriots were a busy bunch on Monday when the negotiation window opened, and have added a handful of players since that initial flurry.
The Patriots addressed a number of needs on the defensive side of the ball on Monday, however needs remain on offense. But Vrabel is looking to bring his type of players to New England, and he's checked off a few boxes throughout the week.
Here's a running list of New England's additions and departures so far this offseason.
Cooper Kupp signs with Seahawks
If you were hoping for the Patriots to sign Cooper Kupp, he's heading home to Seattle. The receiver options are getting thin for the Patriots in free agency, but there are a few notable veterans left.
Patriots announce four free-agent signings
The Patriots officially announced the signings of free agent safety Marcus Epps, wide receiver Mack Hollins, and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, and the re-signing on tight end Austin Hooper on Friday.
Welcome to New England. Or in Hooper's case, welcome back.
Patriots reportedly add safety Marcus Epps
The Patriots have reportedly signed veteran safety Marcus Epps to a one-year deal, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. He'll give New England some depth in the secondary, alongside fellow safeties Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins, and Dell Pettus.
The move reunites Epps with Josh McDaniels, who was his head coach in Las Vegas in 2023. Epps was McDaniels' starting free safety and a team captain for the Raiders that year. The Patriots have now signed three former Raiders this offseason in Epps, linebacker Robert Spillane, and receiver Mack Hollins.
The 29-year-old played in just three games last season after suffering an ACL tear, but Epps is expected to be ready for training camp. He's a six-year veteran who came into the league as a sixth-round pick by Minnesota in 2019, and split his rookie season with the Vikings and Eagles. He played four seasons in Philadelphia before spending the last two seasons with the Raiders.
In 82 career games, including 45 starts, Epps has recorded three interceptions, 18 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery to go with 294 tackles. He can also play some special teams.
Patriots reportedly sign veteran lineman Wes Schweitzer
One day after releasing David Andrews, the New England Patriots signed veteran offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer to a one-year contract, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Schweitzer, 31, will give New England some more depth along the offensive line and has experience at center and guard. A sixth-round pick by Atlanta in 2017, he has started 62 of his 90 career games for the Falcons, Commanders, and Jets.
Schweitzer played 10 games for the Jets over the last two seasons. The Patriots still need a starting left tackle and it's unclear if Ben Brown or Cole Strange will be the team's starting center in 2025, but Schweitzer has starting experience in the NFL and gives Mike Vrabel a little more depth to work with along the offensive line.
Patriots reportedly sign linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson
Another day, another defensive player joining the Patriots. New England has reportedly signed 25-year-old linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson to a one-year, $5 million deal, according to Ian Rapoport.
Chaisson spent four seasons in Jacksonville after he was drafted 20th overall by the Jags in 2020, but was never able to make a big impact for the team. But he broke out for the Las Vegas Raiders last year with a career-best 32 tackles, five sacks, and seven tackles for loss over 15 games.
Patriots release David Andrews
In a shocking move, the Patriots released longtime starting center David Andrews on Thursday.
Andrews had been an integral part of the New England offensive line since taking over as the team's starting center as an undrafted rookie in 2015. In addition to his steadiness on the field, Andrews was also an important leader in the locker room and was named a team captain eight times.
Releasing Andrews marks the end of an era in New England, though Andrews will almost certainly take his place in the Patriots Hall of Fame sometime in the future. The move also creates another void along the New England offensive line, which now has holes at left tackle, left guard, and center.
Center is now a position the Patriots will have to explore in free agency and at the 2025 NFL Draft. Ben Brown (who started 10 games at center last season) and converted guard Cole Strange are potential in-house options for New England.
Jaylinn Hawkins reportedly re-signing with Patriots
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins played in every game for the Patriots last season and is returning to New England. He'll be back on a one-year deal worth $2.5 million, according to ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss.
Hawkins joined the Patriots last offseason and ended up making seven starts for the Patriots, racking up 48 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Deatrich Wise Jr. reportedly joins Commanders
Another former Patriot is heading to the Commanders. Defensive lineman and three-time team captain Deatrich Wise Jr. is signing with Washington on a one-year deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
A fourth-round pick by New England in 2017, Wise developed into a key leader on the defense and won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2018.
Jonathan Jones reportedly signs with Commanders
After a nine-year career in New England, cornerback Jonathan Jones is leaving to sign a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Signed as an undrafted free-agent in 2016, Jones won two Super Bowls during his run with the Patriots.
Patriots officially announce Harold Landry signing
Right after the new league year began, the Patriots announced the signing of linebacker Harold Landry.
The Patriots did not announce the terms of the deal, but it's reportedly a three-year pact with the former Titan. The move reunites him with Vrabel, who was his head coach in Tennessee and drafted Landry out of Boston College.
Landry promised "bright things ahead" for the Patriots in a video posted to the team's X account.
The Patriots also announced they will host a press conference at Gillette Stadium on Thursday at 1 p.m. to "discuss the team's initial free agent acquisitions," but it's unclear who will be taking the podium in Foxboro.
Quiet Tuesday for Patriots, Cooper Kupp "curious" about New England
After dishing out a lot of money on Monday, the Patriots didn't sign anyone on Tuesday. But the team might be able to fill one of its voids at wide receiver on Wednesday.
Cooper Kupp was released by the L.A. Rams and is now free to sign with whatever team he wants. And according to Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald, the veteran wide out is "curious about the prospect of playing in New England and has shared that curiosity with some close to him."
Kupp has dealt with injuries in each of the last three seasons, and only played in a dozen games in each of the last two years. He still had 67 receptions for 710 yards and six touchdowns in 2024, and has racked up over 1,000 receiving yards twice in his career -- including an NFL-leading 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2021.
He released a classy statement after being let go by the Rams, and said the "Best is yet to come."
Patriots have busy Day 1 of NFL Free Agency
The negotiating/legal tampering window has been open for a few hours now and it's been a very eventful day for the New England Patriots thus far. Here's a look at the players they reportedly added on Monday, plus two players they signed on Sunday:
DT Milton Williams: 4 yrs, $104 million
CB Carlton Davis: 3 yrs, $60 million
LB Robert Spillane: 3 yrs, $37.5 million
LB Harold Landry: 3 yrs, $43.5 million
DT Khyiris Tonga: 1 yr, $2.7 million
OL Morgan Moses: 3 yrs, $24 million
TE Austin Hooper: 1 yr, $5 million
QB Josh Dobbs: 2 yrs, $8 million
WR Mack Hollins: 2 yrs, $8.4 million
Overall, that's a pretty good first day of NFL free agency for the Patriots. They addressed a number of needs on the defensive side of the ball, and the defensive line should be a mean bunch with Williams leading the way and Spillane and Landry helping in the middle of the field.
But the Patriots didn't do much to help quarterback Drake Maye, with no left tackle or game-dictating receiver added to the mix. There is still time to go find those kinds of players, but the Patriots may need to get creative on the trade front with most of the big-name tackles and receivers now off the market.
Patriots reportedly sign receiver Mack Hollins
The Patriots added a depth piece to their receiving room, reportedly signing 31-year-old Mack Hollins to a two-year deal, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Hollins caught 31 passes for the Buffalo Bills last season, and came down with a career-high five touchdowns. He's also had stops in Philadelphia, Miami, Las Vegas, and Atlanta during his seven-year career. His best season came in 2022 for the Raiders when he played under then-Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels, who he's reunited with in New England. That season, Hollins had the best game of his career with eight receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Titans -- who were coached by Mike Vrabel at the time.
He's not the No. 1 receiver the Patriots need, but Hollins gives the team some veteran depth and also plays on special teams.
Patriots reportedly sign backup QB Josh Dobbs
The Patriots added a veteran to their QB room late Monday afternoon, reportedly signing Josh Dobbs to a two-year contract. Dobbs' agent initially broke the news, and Tom Pelissero is reporting the contract is for $8 million with $3.8 million fully guaranteed.
This will be the ninth NFL season for the 30-year-old Dobbs, who made a pair of appearances for the San Francisco 49ers last year. He has also played for the Minnesota Vikings (going 2-2 as their starter in 2023), Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dobbs and Mike Vrabel crossed paths in Tennessee in 2022, when the QB started two games for the Titans. In New England, he'll join second-year quarterbacks Drake Maye and Joe Milton III on the depth chart, and will compete with Milton for the backup job.
Patriots reportedly sign DT Milton Williams
While it was previously reported that Milton Williams was signing with the Panthers, that did not come to fruition. Williams is instead coming to New England, which is a massive get for the Patriots defense.
Williams is set to make $26 million annually in New England, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The 25-year-old Williams was a disruptive force for the Eagles last season, racking up five sacks, 10 QB hits, and 24 tackles for the Super Bowl champs.
This is huge for the Patriots, who land one of the best available free agents on the defensive side. The New England defense looks pretty formidable with the additions of Williams, Robert Spillane, Carlton Davis, and Harold Landry over the last 24 hours.
Patriots reportedly sign right tackle Morgan Moses
The Patriots did land a tackle on Monday, reportedly signing right tackle Morgan Moses, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Morgan is getting a three-year deal that could be worth up to $28.5 million.
The 34-year-old veteran will give the Patriots some leadership along the offensive line. He played 14 games for the Jets last year, but has played in every game in eight of his 11 NFL seasons.
Patriots reportedly sign cornerback Carlton Davis
The Patriots are at least making moves on defense. The team has reportedly added Carlton Davis to be their No. 2 corner with Christian Gonzalez.
Davis played for the Detroit Lions last season and had 56 tackles, a pair of interceptions, and 11 passes defended. He spent his first six NFL seasons in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers, and has 11 interceptions, four forced fumbles, and 380 tackles in 89 games over his career.
While Landry, Spillane, and Davis aren't the Day 1 signings New England fans were hoping for, the trio should go a long way in improving the team's defense in 2025.
Patriots miss out on Dan Moore, Milton Williams
You can take another left tackle off the board for the Patriots, along with one of the best defensive players available.
Left tackle Dan Moore is off to the Titans, signing a four-year deal for $82 million, according to Ian Rapoport. That leaves Cam Robinson as the only big name left tackle available for the Patriots in free agency.
That hurts, as does losing out to Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams. He's leaving the defending Super Bowl champs to reportedly sign with .... the Carolina Panthers, according to Diana Russini of The Athletic. Ouch.
UPDATE: Williams did NOT complete a deal with the Panthers, and is instead heading to New England. Rejoice, Patriots fans.
Patriots reportedly sign linebacker Robert Spillane
The Patriots have added to their defense again, reportedly signing linebacker Robert Spillane, according to Ian Rapoport.
Spillane is a talented linebacker who will help New England's run defense, which was among the worst in the NFL in 2024. The 29-year-old Spillane played the last two seasons with the Raiders, and had a career-high 158 combined tackles to go with two sacks, three QB hits, and two interceptions for Las Vegas in 2024. Prior to his time with the Raiders, Spillane played four seasons for the Steelers.
He got his start in the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Tennessee under Mike Vrabel in 2018. Now Spillane will be back on Vrabel's defense in New England.
Chris Godwin goes back to Buccaneers
Just 10 minutes into free agency and Chris Godwin is heading back to Tampa. The wide receiver is signing a three-year, $66 million deal with the Bucs, according to Ian Rapoport.
Onto Plan D (or E or F or G) for the Patriots at receiver.
Left Tackle Jaylon Moore reportedly signs with Chiefs
The Pats missed out on another left tackle, with Jaylon Moore reportedly agreeing to a two-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Patriots trade Davon Godchaux to Saints
Godchaux wasn't seen as a fit in Vrabel's new defensive scheme, and was given permission to seek a trade a few weeks ago. On Monday, the Pats reportedly agreed to trade him to the New Orleans Saints for a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Patriots sign Harold Landry to 3-year deal
It's no surprise that the Patriot signed Landry, who was drafted by Vrabel in Tennessee and spent six seasons playing under him with the Titans. For his career, Landry has 50.5 sacks over 98 games. He got to the quarterback 19.5 times over the last two seasons, so the 28-year-old should bring plenty of help to New England's pass rush.
Landry reportedly took some convincing to come to New England, and the Pats are set to pay him a max of $48 million over the next three seasons.
Patriots sign Austin Hooper to 1-year deal
Hooper is back on a one-year contract that could be worth up to $7 million. The veteran tight end formed a solid duo with Hunter Henry last season, when Hooper caught 45 passes for 476 yards and three touchdowns.
Patriots miss out on DK Metcalf, Davante Adams
DK Metcalf will not be coming to New England to catch passes from Drake Maye. The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired the wide receiver on Sunday, sending a second-round pick to Seattle in return. The Steelers are also signing Metcalf to a five-year extension worth $150 million.
Additionally, free-agent receiver Davante Adams signed a 2-year deal with the L.A. Rams over the weekend. The Patriots will now likely focus in on free-agent Chris Godwin, who did not re-up with the Buccaneers this offseason.
Top left tackle Ronnie Stanley returns to Ravens
The Patriots need someone to protect Maye's blind side, but that will not be Ronnie Stanley. The top left tackle available is returning to the Ravens, reportedly signing a three-year deal worth $60 million on Saturday.
Minnesota free agent Cam Robinson remains a possibility for the Patriots at left tackle.
