New England Patriots Have 24 NFL Free Agents in 2025

Eliot Wolf prioritized locking up core players for the New England Patriots this offseason. He brought back several key free agents, including lucrative deals for offensive lineman Mike Onwenu and safety Kyle Dugger. Wolf extended the contracts of some key Patriots players as well. That group included defensive tackle Christian Barmore and running back Rhamondre Stevenson, among others. Wolf will have his hands full again next offseason. Twenty-four Patriots hit free agency next March, barring a change in contract status before then.

There are 62 players under contract in New England this season. In addition to the 53-man roster, there are nine other players with an injury designation to start the season. Those players are included here as well. The 17 members of the Patriots practice squad are not.

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The play of these 24 players will help determine their football futures and possible returns to New England in 2025. Two of the Patriots team captains for this season, and other veteran leaders, are among the pending free agents next offseason. So if these players walk, there will be a leadership void in Foxboro that needs to be filled as well.

A breakdown of the Patriots who could hit NFL free agency in 2025:

Exclusive-Rights Free Agents (ERFA)

Using the words “free agents” to describe the ERFA group is generous. If the New England Patriots want them back for 2025, they will be back. An ERFA needs to be tendered at an offer at the three-year NFL veteran minimum salary. The player signs the contract or does not play.

There are five players set to be ERFA from New England in 2025, three of whom are on season-ending IR and won’t play this season.

New England’s 2025 ERFA: OT Demontrey Jacobs, OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr., WR JaQuae Jackson, and CB Alex Austin.

New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin (28) intercepts a pass on Dec. 31, 2023, against the Buffalo Bills (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)

Restricted Free Agents (RFA)

These players have more leverage than the ERFA group, but less than an unrestricted free agent. While unrestricted free agents have at least four years of service, an RFA only has three. If the team makes them a qualifying offer, they become a restricted free agent. This allows for the player to sign an offer sheet with another NFL franchise. However, their original team reserves the right to match the offer and retain the player.

Three Patriots players are set to become restricted free agents in 2025: OL Zach Thomas, LB Christian Elliss, and ST Brenden Schooler.

What a setup and impressive speed from @SchoolerBrenden 👏 @Patriots

📺: #MIAvsNE on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/E0ttYrlvSq

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2023

Thomas and Elliss can both make cases for a larger payday with solid play if the opportunity arises this season. Schooler is an interesting player. He is one of the elite special teams players in the NFL. But does the new regime in New England value a special teams-only player the same way the old regime did? Could another NFL team, perhaps one coached by Bill Belichick himself, sign the special teams ace to a generous offer sheet? Stay tuned.

Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) – Offense

Six of the remaining 14 players play offense for the New England Patriots. This group consists of two players who will be Week 1 starters, two others who might, and two reserves. Five of the six are players signed by Eliot Wolf this past offseason to one-year deals.

New England’s offensive UFA: QB Jacoby Brissett, RB JaMycal Hasty, WR K.J. Osborn, TE Austin Hooper, OL Nick Leverett, and OT Chukwuma Okorafor.

Video: WR K.J. Osborn, in the 1-on-1 red-zone drill, with the quick reaction on the laser from Jacoby Brissett. pic.twitter.com/W33yeIIb5b

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 5, 2024

To some degree, all of these players control their fate. The offense has performed so poorly over the past two seasons, and especially in 2023, opportunities will exist. The lone player listed who may not control his situation for playing time is JaMycal Hasty. He begins the season behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson on the depth chart. So, Hasty needs to make the most of whatever opportunities he has.

For the other five players, if they impress, they will play. If they play well, they will get paid in 2025. Will that money come from the New England Patriots? That depends on what happens in 2024.

Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) – Defense

The New England Patriots defense remained a positive last season, even when the team plummeted to a 4-13 record. Eliot Wolf rewarded several Patriots defenders with new deals after the season. Kyle Dugger, Anfernee Jennings, and Joshua Uche were brought back in free agency. Christian Barmore, Davon Godchaux, Jahlani Tavai, and Jabrill Peppers signed extensions. But nine defenders remain ready to hit the open market in 2025.

New England’s defensive UFA: DT Daniel Ekuale, DT Armon Watts, DE Deatrich Wise Jr., ED Joshua Uche, ED Oshane Ximines, LB Raekwon McMillan, CB Jonathan Jones, CB Marco Wilson, and S Jaylinn Hawkins.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is sacked by New England Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. on Dec. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes )

Watts (who is on season-ending IR), Ximines, and Hawkins all signed one-year deals in free agency to come to New England. Uche agreed to a one-year contract to return.

It is difficult to imagine New England losing Deatrich Wise Jr. and Jonathan Jones, both Super Bowl champions with the Patriots. The two are leaders on the field and in the community. The pair are now on the “wrong side” of 30, which likely prevented an extension from getting done. This season provides an opportunity for them to show they can still play at a high level and get paid accordingly.

Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) – Special Teams

Joey Slye stands alone in this group. Bryce Baringer and Joe Cardona don’t hit free agency until 2027. Slye beat out incumbent Chad Ryland for the kicker’s job in training camp. He becomes eligible to hit the open market again next offseason. If he performs well, New England would be wise to lock him up. If Slye struggles, using draft capital on another kicker becomes the likely outcome for the New England Patriots.