"The New England Patriots' 2026 offseason is underway, and free agency begins on March 11. The team had a Cinderella-like 2025 season after a brilliant 2025 offseason rebuild by Mike Vrabel. Now the team and Patriot Nation are on to 2026. One player whose injury was costly and who'll need to bounce back is linebacker Harold Landry III. Top NFL personnel evaluator Vrabel showed his mettle in the 2025 offseason when he rebuilt a 4-13, 2024 roster (including adding Landry) into a Super Bowl team."
"But that was then, and this is now. Vrabel's challenges will be huge to sustain the team's position near the top of the NFL. The Patriots have $35M in cap room and can free up more by making some strategic roster moves. He'll need every dollar he can get for free agency. He'll also have a far less advantageous 2026 draft position at 31 than he did in the 2025 draft at three."
"He racked up 8.5 sacks, but he was hampered by a knee injury for much of the season and postseason. ESPN analyst Mike Reiss commented on Landry's 2026 outlook. "Landry, who never seemed to be the same after injuring his knee Week 6 at New Orleans, hinted at offseason surgery. His $11 million base salary is guaranteed for 2026, which will be his ninth in the NFL. 'I'm going to get my knee right, and we're going to get right back to it,' he said.""
Mike Vrabel rebuilt a 4-13 2024 roster into a Super Bowl team in 2025, including adding linebacker Harold Landry III. The Patriots enter the 2026 offseason with $35 million in cap room and a 31st overall draft pick, increasing pressure to allocate resources carefully. The team's top roster needs are edge and offensive line after a poor 2025 record surrendering sacks. Landry recorded 8.5 sacks in 2025 but was hampered by a knee injury after Week 6 that reduced his pass-rush burst. Landry's $11 million base salary is guaranteed for 2026, and he has hinted at offseason surgery.
Read at Musket Fire
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]