NFL writers give Patriots high marks after first week of free agency originally appeared on NESN. Click here to add NESN as your preferred source.
The New England Patriots got off to a good start in the first week of NFL free agency, adding key players such as wide receiver Romeo Dubs, linebacker Aliyah Vera-Tucker, safety Kevin Baird and pass rusher Draymont Jones.
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New England hopes to bounce back this season and get back to the Super Bowl, and each of these four players could significantly increase the Patriots’ chances. Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus evaluated every NFL team’s first week of free agency and gave New England a solid “B+” grade, and he’s a big fan of Vera-Tucker’s signing.
“Injuries have hampered Vera-Tucker throughout his five-year career, including missing all of 2025 with a torn triceps. But when healthy, Vera-Tucker has been an impact player, especially on the ground, earning at least 72.5 PFF against the run every season,” McGuinness wrote on Monday. “New England could move Vera-Tucker at left guard alongside Will Campbell and Jared Wilson, which feels like value as long as he avoids injury.”
McGuinness didn’t rate any of the Patriots’ signees as below average, but he did rate two players, Dubs and Jones, as solid average signees.
“The Titans traded Jones to the Ravens before the 2025 deadline, and he agreed to a modest deal with the Patriots at the end of the season,” McGuinness added. “That’s slightly more than PFF projects his contract to be, but not significantly. For a player who has generated 40-plus pressures in each of the past five seasons and can pass the ball significantly inside, the move makes sense for the Patriots.”
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“That’s a bit too high for Doubs based on PFF contract projections, but it’s a perfect fit for the Patriots’ needs. Doubs has averaged 1.62 yards per route or more in each of the past three seasons while earning PFF a grade above 70.0 in all three years.”
The Patriots could make a bigger move this offseason. While they may not focus on signing free agents, they could pursue a big trade instead.
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