INDIANAPOLIS — With the NFL Scouting Combine in full swing and free agency less than two weeks away, the league has announced its new salary cap figure.
The 2026 NFL salary cap is set at $301.2 million. That’s up $22 million from the 2025 offseason.
The Patriots currently have $40,398,596 in cap space, per OverTheCap.com. That puts them 10th in the NFL in salary cap space. The Patriots had the most cap space in the NFL last offseason and went on to hand out $364,370,000 in total contract value and $174,909,000 guaranteed at signing.
With just over $40 million in cap space, the Patriots are not expected to be as active in free agency this offseason, though there are still ways to free up more spending money.
Releasing or trading wide receiver Stefon Diggs before March 13, when the new league year starts, would free up $18.9 million. The team could also free up more cap space by restructuring some of the bigger contracts on their roster, like Milton Williams’ and Robert Spillane’s.
Vrabel didn’t seem concerned with the Patriots’ cap number when asked about it this week at the combine.
“I’ve never really tried to get focused [on that],” Vrabel said. “If I shop at Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom or something, I’ve gotten to the point now in my life where if I want something, I can usually buy it. I’m sure Richard Miller, Eliot (Wolf) and Matt Groh will work and do everything that they can to help us sign the players, with certain exceptions. I haven’t even gotten that far. If you like something, you usually just try to buy it.”
OverTheCap.com lists the Patriots’ “effective” cap space at $36,278,072. That’s “the cap space a team will have after signing at least 51 players and its projected rookie class to its roster.”
The Patriots currently have 11 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, including five picks in the first four rounds.
While the Patriots will most likely spend the majority of their cap space through free agency, they could also elect to ship away draft picks in potential trades for Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown or Raiders edge defender Maxx Crosby.
“Every year is different. Every year is an opportunity in free agency and the draft to improve the roster,” executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said this week. “And it’s not just free agency in the draft. It’s trades, it’s waiver claims, it’s restricted free agency, all those things. We’re going to explore everything that we can.”
Wide receiver would become a major need if the Patriots elect to part ways with Diggs, though they would need to be assured that another high-caliber wide receiver could shake free.
The Patriots’ current top needs are at edge defender, on their offensive line and at safety.
Outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson and safety Jaylinn Hawkins, both starters in 2025, are impending free agents, and both players could have robust markets.
The Patriots’ entire starting offensive line is returning in 2026, though they could still use an upgrade at left guard. Jared Wilson, who played center in college, started at left guard in 2025 and was a weak link in the unit. Wilson could compete with starting center Garrett Bradbury in camp next summer. That would open up a need at left guard.
The team is also shallow at tight end with Austin Hooper set to enter free agency. Hunter Henry and CJ Dippre are under contract at the position, while fullback/tight end Jack Westover is an exclusive-rights free agent.
Defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga and offensive tackles Vederian Lowe and Thayer Munford Jr. are also unrestricted free agents. If the Patriots lose Lowe and Munford, then they should be in the market for a backup offensive tackle behind starters Will Campbell and Morgan Moses.
Linebacker Jack Gibbens is the team’s top restricted free agent, followed by cornerback Alex Austin and quarterback Tommy DeVito.