The New England Patriots couldn't cap off their comeback season with a Super Bowl win. The Seattle Seahawks' hard-hitting defense was too much for New England's shaky offensive line and Drake Maye's inexperience.
Even so, this season was a major success. Mike Vrabel didn't need much time to get this team back to the top of the AFC, and they may be only a couple of tweaks away from hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the seventh time in franchise history.
Of course, that will require making some sacrifices. According to Over The Cap, the Patriots will have the 11th-most cap space available in the league ($42 million), but with a couple of moves, that number could go significantly up. With that in mind, we'll discuss the players most likely to leave after the Super Bowl loss.
9 Patriots Who Won't Return After Super Bowl Loss
1. K'Lavon Chaisson - EDGE
K'Lavon Chaisson is going to test free agency, and he should be in for a bit of a pay raise after logging three sacks in the playoffs. His raw numbers (7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles) in the regular season look solid, but there's more to those statistics than what meets the eye. Consistency matters, and he hasn't been as dependable as one would hope.
Chaisson isn't good at stopping the run, and some desperate team will probably overpay for his services. Bill Belichick may not be in the building anymore, but the Patriots continue to operate the same way: Once a guy goes over their price tag, they are fine with moving on.
2. Hunter Henry - TE
Hunter Henry is a fan favorite and one of Drake Maye's top targets. Then again, that doesn't mean he's the type of player who routinely puts up the big numbers that come with his $11.75 million salary for next season.
Conversely, the Patriots could save up $9.25 million by parting ways with the 31-year-old, taking a minuscule $2.5 million dead cap hit. Henry is a veteran who may even garner some interest in the trade market. It's not that Henry isn't a productive player -- he had 769 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 60 receptions this season -- but he's not as impactful as his salary would suggest. He logged three catches on five targets for 31 yards in the Super Bowl.
3. Austin Hooper - TE
Letting Hunter Henry go might sting because of the fans' emotional ties, but that's not the case with Austin Hooper. He's a solid blocker and whatnot, but he's logged a combined 739 yards and five scores over the past couple of seasons, and he's not much more than a depth or rotational piece for the passing game.
Of course, Hooper provides a valuable locker room presence, but given the shortage of pass-catching tight ends who are also willing blockers, someone else will most likely try to poach him. The Patriots aren't short in cash, but they won't be hard-pressed to spend big bucks on their TE2.
4. Anfernee Jennings - EDGE
Anfernee Jennings has spent his entire career with the Patriots since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2020. He's a fine player, but this team needs much more than just fine, especially if they can save up nearly $5 million ($4.8 million, to be accurate) by cutting him this offseason.
The Patriots' pass rush was pretty much non-existent in 2025 outside of Milton Williams, and that's likely to be a point of emphasis in the offseason. As such, there might not be much room for a player who made just three starts this season. While Jennings isn't bad by any means, his development pretty much stalled. He has 7.5 sacks in 75 career games, and he's been much more efficient against the run than when asked to go after the quarterback.
5. Stefon Diggs - WR
The Patriots' decision to sign Stefon Diggs this offseason was always controversial. The former Buffalo Bills star was coming off a season-ending injury, had a history of burning bridges with his former teams, and had displayed questionable behavior off the field.
While there were those cautionary flags out there, Diggs looked solid in the regular season, but then he was missing in action in the playoffs. He was held to under 50 receiving yards in the final five games of the season, including a two-reception, 31-yard performance in the Super Bowl. Moving on from a troublemaker like Diggs would be much more than just good publicity for the Patriots, given his pending legal case. It would also free up $22 million for them to pursue a younger and probably less high-maintenance WR1.
6. Christian Elliss - LB
There was a time when Christian Ellis was one of the most exciting players to watch in New England. He brought a never-ending drive from sideline to sideline, and he was much better in coverage than the average linebacker. Despite that, he's never been much more than a rotational piece.
Of course, he provides some much-needed versatility, and the Patriots would probably miss him if he's not there. Then again, he carries an $8.6 million cap hit next season, and that's far too much for someone who's routinely in and out of the game and not a clear-cut starter. He's a good player, but that cost is far too high.
7. Tommy DeVito - QB
Tommy DeVito might be a fan favorite wherever he goes, but that's pretty much all he brings to the table. Of course, his ascension to the NFL from relative obscurity is a nice story, but the Patriots don't need him taking one of 53 roster spots next season, regardless of what they do with Josh Dobbs.
Of course, Drake Maye isn't going anywhere, and he's been pretty durable over his first two years in the league. Knock on wood, that will continue to be the case, thus making the Patriots' QB3 job one of the least important in the game. There is always the possibility they keep him on the practice squad, though it would seem to make more sense to use that spot for a developmental QB than a player who is what he is at this stage of his career.
8. Thayer Munford Jr. - OT
The New England Patriots' offensive line was a revolving door for most of the season. Rookie LT Will Campbell was a mixed bag, and he didn't look the part in the playoffs. As such, that will most likely be a point of emphasis in the offseason, and with Thayer Munford Jr. set to enter free agency, the Patriots might not be interested in bringing him back.
Granted, he's not a terrible player by any means, but he got beaten over and over in the Super Bowl. Even if he's not the only one responsible for Maye constantly being in harm's way, the Patriots will probably try to swing for the fences and add big names to the offensive line in the offseason.
9. Rhamondre Stevenson - RB
All things considered, TreVeyon Henderson was one of the most disappointing rookies in the league this season. That said, this was also due to the team keeping Rhamondre Stevenson in the mix. That shouldn't be the case next season, and the former Ohio State star should finally have a green light to flourish.
Stevenson lost his job as the undisputed RB1 because of his never-ending ball-security issues. We've seen how quickly running backs can fall off, and the Patriots would only take a $3.2 million cap hit by moving on from him. They will trust Henderson more after a year of experience, and the need for a veteran in the backfield won't be necessary.