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New England Patriots DST

Player Outlook
The Patriots DST certainly benefited from a favorable schedule last season. Can they stay strong against a tougher, first-place slate in 2026? You'll have to answer that before taking them on Draft Day. The NFC North, AFC West, Jaguars and Seahawks (in Seattle to start the year) are all on their calendar, as are two games against the Bills. That's 12 of their 17 games against pretty good offenses ... and the Raiders. Their other games, particularly four against the Jets and Dolphins, are very appealing. But this is a Patriots defense that made minimal additions to its pass rush and secondary this offseason, suggesting that regression for a team that had 35 sacks and 10 interceptions while allowing 18.1 points per game is entirely possible. It's particularly easy to pass on the Patriots DST with Seattle, Jacksonville and Buffalo on their schedule within the first four weeks of the season.

Fantasy News

  • Patriots' Gabe Jacas: Hopeful for training camp

    Rotowire
    The Patriots are hopeful that Jacas (knee) will be ready for the start of training camp, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. Jacas remained away from the team and unsigned throughout mandatory minicamp. Head coach Mike Vrabel declined to disclose the nature of Jacas' current injury, but he noted that the rookie second-rounder is recovering from surgery. A hamstring injury held Jacas out of the 2026 NFL Combine in February and Illinois' Pro Day in March, but he worked out at his personal pro day in April. A source tells Reiss that Jacas is currently recovering from a knee procedure and that the Patriots are likely seeking injury-related financial protection within the terms of his contract.
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  • Patriots' Christian Gonzalez: Reports for minicamp

    Rotowire
    Gonzalez reported to New England's mandatory minicamp Tuesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports. Gonzalez is back with the team after skipping most of the voluntary offseason program while holding out for a contract extension. The Patriots picked up the 23-year-old's fifth-year option in April, but Gonzalez continues to negotiate a long-term extension with the team.
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  • Patriots' Gabe Jacas: Recovering from procedure

    Rotowire
    Coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday that Jacas (undisclosed) is recovering from surgery, Mark Daniels of MassLive.com reports. No details were given regarding the injury, but Vrabel did note that Jacas is not yet under contract when asked about his absence from the Patriots' mandatory minicamp. The rookie second-rounder will likely have some catching up to do once he is able to join the team on the practice field.
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  • Patriots' Joshua Farmer: Participating in OTAs

    Rotowire
    Farmer (hamstring) is participating in OTAs. The 2025 fourth-round pick suffered the hamstring injury late in the regular season and missed New England's Super Bowl run, finishing the year with 15 tackles (seven solo), a pass breakup and a fumble recovery. Now that he's back, he'll likely compete for a rotational spot behind starting defensive ends Milton Williams and Christian Barmore.
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  • Patriots' Eric Gregory: Good to go for OTAs

    Rotowire
    Gregory (knee) is participating in OTAs. The defensive tackle was placed on injured reserve in January after New England's AFC divisional-round win over Houston. Gregory recorded eight tackles across seven games for the Patriots last year.
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  • Patriots' Marcellas Dial: Present during OTAs

    Rotowire
    Dial (knee) is participating during the Patriots' OTAs, Sophie Weller of USA Today reports. Dial spent the whole 2025 season on IR after tearing his ACL during training camp, but he's now back on the practice field with his teammates. In his rookie year in 2024, he played 60 snaps on defense and 363 snaps on special teams.
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  • Patriots' Quintayvious Hutchins: Injured at rookie minicamp

    Rotowire
    Hutchins (undisclosed) suffered an injury during Saturday's practice session at rookie minicamp, Mike Kadlick of CLNSMedia.com reports. Hutchins, a 2026 seventh-round pick, is competing to carve out a reserve role in New England's edge rushing corps. He will have plenty of time to heal up in advance of June minicamp activities, though the details and severity of his injury remain undisclosed. A five-year contributor at Boston College, Hutchins wrapped up his senior year in 2025 with 35 total tackles, including 2.0 sacks, across 10 appearances.
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  • Patriots' Christian Gonzalez: Contract option picked up

    Rotowire
    The Patriots have exercised Gonzalez's fifth-year contract option, Mark Daniels of masslive.com reports. As a result of the expected move, Gonzalez -- who was a Pro Bowler last season -- is in line to earn $18.1 million in 2027. Beyond that, it's still plausible that the 2023 third-rounder lands a lucrative extension from the Patriots down the road. Gonzalez is coming of a 2025 regular season in which he recorded a career-high 69 tackles and 10 defensed passes in 14 games while working as a starting cornerback opposite Carlton Davis.
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  • Saints' Anfernee Jennings: Heading to Big Easy

    Rotowire
    Jennings is expected to sign with the Saints on Sunday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. Jennings spent the last five seasons with the Patriots, accumulating 132 tackles and 7.5 sacks. The 2020 third-round pick was let go by New England on March 11. Jennings is heading into his age-29 season, and he should provide veteran depth behind Carl Granderson and Chase Young.
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  • Patriots' Quintayvious Hutchins: Heads to New England

    Rotowire
    The Patriots selected Hutchins in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 247th overall. Hutchins spent his entire five-year college career in Boston College and was a regular starter on defense in 2024 and 2025. He ended his senior year with 35 total tackles, including 2.0 sacks, across 10 games. Hutchins was mostly used as an edge rusher, and while he was more of a role player during his time at Boston College, he has plenty of experience on special teams that could earn him some playing time in his rookie season in the NFL. Hutchins will spend the offseason and training camp competing against the likes of Elijah Ponder, rookie second-rounder Gabe Jacas and Bradyn Swinson for a rotational spot at edge rusher behind Dre'Mont Jones and Harold Landry.
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  • Patriots' Gabe Jacas: Drafted by New England

    Rotowire
    The Patriots selected Jacas in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 55th overall. New England traded up (with the Chargers) to select Jacas, and it's no surprise to see the team prioritize the pass rush after having lost K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency. Jacas was a four-year starter at Illinois, where he led the team in terms of both sacks and tackles for a loss in both 2024 and 2025. Veterans Harold Landry and Dre'Mont Jones are essentially locked into starting gigs, which positions Jacas to handle a rotational role as a rookie.
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  • Marte Mapu: Let go by Patriots

    Rotowire
    New England informed Mapu on Tuesday that he will be cut, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. A 2023 third-round pick, Mapu had one year remaining on his rookie deal but will now need to search for an opportunity elsewhere in the league. He suited up for all 17 regular-season games in 2025 but handled only a career-low 120 snaps on defense, compared to a career-high 254 snaps on special teams. He had 25 tackles (18 solo), five passes defensed (including one interception) and one forced fumble in that span.
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  • Cardinals' Jack Gibbens: Joining Cardinals

    Rotowire
    Gibbens signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals on Monday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports. Arizona was in need of depth at off-ball linebacker after releasing Akeem Davis-Gaither, and Gibbens has been tabbed as his replacement. While Gibbens started eight of his 17 regular-season appearances for the Patriots last year, he may not be assured a regular role off the bat with Mack Wilson (ribs) and 2025 fourth-round pick Cody Simon also on the Cardinals roster. Gibbens tallied 81 tackles, including 1.0 sack, four pass defenses and one forced fumble in 2025.
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  • Jahlani Tavai: Finished in New England

    Rotowire
    Tavai (undisclosed) was released by the Patriots with a failed physical designation Wednesday, per the NFL's transaction log. The veteran linebacker from Hawaii appeared in 12 regular-season games for the Patriots last season, recording 42 total tackles and one forced fumble across 445 total snaps (230 on defense, 215 on special teams). Once Tavai proves he's returned to full health, he's expected to find work with a team in need of inside linebacker depth for the 2026 season.
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  • Jaquelin Roy: Hits free agency

    Rotowire
    The Patriots did not extend a restricted free-agent tender to Roy (undisclosed) by Wednesday's deadline, making him a free agent, Mark Daniels of MassLive.com reports. Roy missed the entire 2025 season due to an undisclosed injury but is now presumably healthy and ready to search for a new landing spot in the NFL. He logged six regular-season appearances (one start) with New England in 2024, totaling 17 tackles (12 solo), including 2.0 sacks, in that span.
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  • Dolphins' Alex Austin: Inks deal with Miami

    Rotowire
    Austin and the Dolphins agreed to terms on a one-year contract Wednesday, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports. Austin mostly served on special teams for the Patriots during the 2025 regular season, finishing with 13 tackles (10 solo) and one pass defense across 12 games. He'll likely reprise that role in Miami while also providing depth in the secondary.
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  • Isaiah Iton: Not tendered by New England

    Rotowire
    The Patriots did not place a tender offer on Iton (hip) on Wednesday, Mark Daniels of MassLive.com reports. Iton spent the entire 2025 season on injured reserve due to a hip injury he likely picked up during training camp in August. The Rutgers product has not appeared in an NFL regular-season game since signing with the Titans as an undrafted free agent in May of 2024.
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  • Jack Gibbens: Becomes unrestricted

    Rotowire
    Gibbens was not tendered by the Patriots, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. Gibbens was a restricted free agent set to receive a $3.6 million tender offer. The Patriots' refusal to tender means Gibbens now is an unrestricted free agent. The linebacker played in all 17 regular-season games for the Patriots in 2025, accumulating 81 tackles (43 solo), including 1.0 sacks. Teams looking for a strong rotational linebacker with starting potential likely will be interested in offering the 27-year-old.
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  • Ravens' Jaylinn Hawkins: Plans to sign with Baltimore

    Rotowire
    The Ravens plan to sign Hawkins to a two-year deal, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. Hawkins is set to receive a two-year deal totalling $10 million. The defensive back started all 15 regular-season games he participated in during the 2025 campaign, logging 71 tackles (45 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and added six passes defensed for four interceptions as well. The Ravens will acquire a safety coming off a career year to pair up with All-Pro Kyle Hamilton.
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  • Commanders' K'Lavon Chaisson: Joins forces with Commanders

    Rotowire
    Washington agreed to terms on a one-year, $11 million contract with Chaisson on Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. Chaisson is coming off a breakout campaign in New England and will spend his seventh season in the NFL as a focal point of the Commanders' revamped pass rush. Across 16 regular-season appearances in 2025, he totaled 71 tackles (18 solo), including a career-high 7.5 sacks. Chaisson projects to start opposite fellow free-agent signee Odafe Oweh in 2026.
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