New England Patriots
It’s the latest report to suggest the Patriots won’t make a big splash this offseason.
Mike Vrabel and the Patriots might not be seeking to make a major move this offseason. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
March 1, 2026 | 3:05 PM
2 minutes to read
If the Patriots swing a trade this offseason, don’t expect them to give up major draft capital.
New England feels “less inclined to send a Micah Parsons-type draft-pick haul” in order to land a star player this offseason, ESPN’s Mike Reiss wrote in his Sunday notes column.
“While they will always listen to trade possibilities for big-name stars they believe would help the team, they don’t view themselves as the proverbial ‘one player away’ from a return trip to the Super Bowl,” Reiss added in what was his biggest takeaway from Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel’s and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf’s comments at the NFL Combine.
The Patriots have been linked to two of the top names available on the trade market so far this offseason. They’re reportedly interested in Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby has apparently said he’d like to play for Vrabel.
But at this point in the offseason, acquiring either player might take a Parsons-like haul, or something close to it. One executive heard that the Eagles were looking for a first-round pick and a second-round pick for Brown, the Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Jeff McLane reported.
As for Crosby, the Raiders’ asking price for him is the same as what the Cowboys got for Parsons from the Packers last August. Las Vegas is seeking two first-round picks and a player for Crosby, Pro Football Talk reported this week. Las Vegas general manager John Spytek also said the team wasn’t looking to trade him during the combine.
Of course, as the offseason progresses, both the Eagles and Raiders could adjust their asking prices for their star players in order to get a deal done. People around the league think that Brown could eventually get traded for a package similar to or greater than the one the Steelers gave up to acquire D.K. Metcalf from the Seahawks last offseason, according to McLane.
Still, Vrabel emphasized the importance of building through the draft when he met with reporters this week.
“We have to continue to draft well and we have to continue to develop because that’s the only way that you can sustain the success that we envision,” Vrabel told Patriots Unfiltered this week.
The Patriots have 11 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. But the vast majority of those selections will take place on Day 3, holding eight picks in Round 4 or later.
New England is also armed with some cap space this offseason. They have roughly $40 million in room, per Over The Cap. Although it reportedly appears unlikely they’ll make a big splash in free agency, either.
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