3 players the Patriots must re-sign to become AFC champions again in 2026

A brilliant season New England Patriots ended in heartbreak at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The Patriots more than met their match as they were outplayed and outplayed by the Seattle Seahawks in a 29-13 loss. The Patriots had high hopes before the game based on their remarkable 14-3 regular season and strong defensive performances in playoff wins over the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos. However, protection from Drake Maia broke early against the Seahawks and Mike VrabelThe coaching staff had no answers.

Reality has already hit the Patriots locker room. The team was the beneficiary of a fourth place schedule this season and many observers characterized the team’s success as “luck”. That is almost certainly an exaggeration, but there is some truth in the assessment. Kaishon Boutte was realistic after the game because he knows nothing is guaranteed.

“Just because we got there this year doesn’t mean we’ll get here next year,” Boutte saidaccording to The Boston Globe. “It’s hard to get here. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. In the end, every year there’s a loser. Unfortunately, it was us.”

Patriots fans it should be remembered that the seeds for another strong run have been planted. Drake Maie has a long way to go to approach Tom Brady’s level, but the second-year quarterback is clearly on the rise in his career. Vrabel won multiple Super Bowls during his playing career with the Patriots and learned a lot as an award-winning NFL coach, but that doesn’t mean he’ll achieve Belichick-like status.

The memorable 2025 season for the Patriots is over and there is very little time for self-congratulations in the NFL. The Patriots have time to take a deep breath, reevaluate their positions and begin planning for the 2026 season. They have several free agents in 2026 and additional players who will reach that status in 2027.

One of those players is dynamic pass rushing linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson. They have to resign him and at least 2 others during the off season.

LB K’Lavon Chaisson

While Mayo’s growth has been the story that has generated the most headlines over the course of the season, the reason the Patriots have been able to go from worst to first in the AFC East is largely due to the play of the defense.

Chaisson was a great competitor during the regular season and then stepped it up a few notches during the postseason.

Chaisson grew throughout the year. He had 31 tackles7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 2 pass defenses, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

He was as important as any player on the team in the playoffs. Chaisson had 12 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 1 pass defensed and 1 forced fumble.

Those numbers speak volumes, and a look at Chaisson’s contract status makes him the team’s top priority in the offseason. He signed a one-year, $3 million deal last season with an all-star option in 2025. He’s been one of the team’s biggest defensive assets and the Patriots can’t let him go. They need to get him under contract for the upcoming 2026 season and beyond.

Director of player personnel Elliot Wolff can’t let one of the other 31 teams find a way to give up on Chaisson. He should be a key member of the Patriots defense for at least the next four seasons.

Chaisson was a first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020, but didn’t start making major contributions until he was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. The Patriots have been the beneficiaries as he’s come into his own this season.

DT Khiiris Tonga

Tonga will also be a free agent in 2026. He was a fixture in the middle of the defensive line, and while he played well in the regular season, he was even better in a four-game stretch in the postseason.

He had 24 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and 2 pass defenses in 14 games played in 2025. Tonga had 7 sacks, 1.0 tackles and 2 tackles for loss in the postseason.

Tonga is not a glamorous player as his strength is to clog up the middle of the defensive line and hold his position. The Patriots paid him $1.18 million last season, and it was money that was clearly well spent. There’s no question the Patriots should bring him back in 2026.

S. Jaylin Hawkins

Hawkins is a player who blossomed somewhat late in his career. The 2025 season was Hawkins’ sixth NFL season and second with the Patriots. He was drafted in the 4th round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2020 and spent 3+ seasons with the Dirty Birds before being traded to the Chargers in 2023.

He moved to the Patriots in 2024 and had 48 tackles and 1 pass defense. However, he was much better this season with 71 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 5 quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.

He had a cap hit of $1.8 million last season, and is set to return to New England in 2026.