The New England Patriots just used up a good portion of their available spending power this offseason on defensive lineman/linebacker Dre’Mont Jones after coming to terms on a three-year, $39M contract on Monday, per NFL Insider Jordan Schultz.
Signing Jones gives the Pats a much-needed pass-rushing threat who gave the Baltimore Ravens seven sacks in 2025. Jones was reportedly on the franchise's radar last season. Per The Boston Sports Journal's Mike Giardi, "Dre'Mont Jones was the subject of trade talks with the Patriots and Titans last fall, but those talks didn't go very far. He can play inside and out."
The Jones signing is a positive for almost all parties involved. Not everyone, though. Jones's deal puts the onus on Harold Landry to prove his worth in the middle for New England or risk becoming a cap casualty next offseason, when the numbers don't exactly work in the linebacker's favor. As Giardi noted, Jones is a two-way player who can take Landry's spot.
In fact, Landry might be lucky that the Patriots made their big splash this offseason and not next year. He's on the books this coming season for $16.3 million, but his dead cap is $19 million. Next offseason, the dead cap is down to $4 million, and his salary is $18.5 million. Landry has no choice but to improve, or else risk being an obvious cut candidate.
Harold Landry Must Overcome Injury Issues to Keep Job with Patriots
It'd be tough to see a team captain from a successful culture be let go, but business is business. New England's title window is open, but it's not clear for how long, and Eliot Wolf owes it to this team to maximize the roster every season, without fail.
Landry is a winning player, but the price tag doesn't match the production. And that's really only due to Landry enduring so many injury issues, not only in 2025 but dating back several years. His knee was an issue in Week 6 and then again in Week 12. He also tore his ACL during the 2022 season with the Tennessee Titans. So, the injury concerns here aren't overblown.
Though he has a strong connection to head coach Mike Vrabel, Landry isn't a long-term guy in New England. He isn't worth an overpay to simply keep the status quo. Had the Pats put up a better fight in Super Bowl LX, maybe it'd be a different situation.
As it stands, 2026 is a make-or-break year for Landry's career in Foxborough, Massachusetts, to say the least.