Patriots links 2/10/26: Pats, NFL on to the offseason – What’s next?

Foxborough, MA - June 2: New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs waves to the cameras as he walks onto the field for an OTA offseason workout at Gillette Stadium on June 2, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

TEAM TALK

• Evan Lazar's Game Observations: Five takeaways from the Patriots loss to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. When the dust settles from this season, we should appreciate the 2025 Patriots for bringing football back to Foxborough. It's been a few years since New England had meaningful games to look forward to and this was one of the most likeable teams this scribe has ever been around: Maye is a rising star who is still just 23 years old, Vrabel is a top coach who is the right man for the job, and the mood in the post-game locker room was one of disappointed mixed with hope because the Patriots are building something special here."

LOCAL LINKS

• Hayden Bird's Offseason Primer: A quick look at the Pats' list of 2026 draft picks, pending free agents.
• Conor Ryan suggests 6 offseason priorities for the Pats moving forward. 1. Shore up offensive line.
• Ethan Hurwitz puts together an offseason checklist: A look ahead at some important dates and milestones for New England to hit in 2026. 1. Feb. 17 - March 3: Franchise/transition tag period; More.
• Justin Leger's Patriots offseason preview: Pending FAs, extension candidates and more
• Jordy McElroy looks at how much salary cap space the Patriots are projected to have in 2026.
• Jordy McElroy emphasizes that the Patriots have 18 players set to hit free agency in 2026.
• Alex Barth tells us where the Patriots will be picking in the top 100 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
• Ethan Hurwitz thumbnails 5 offensive tackles the Patriots could target in the 2026 Draft.
• Chad Finn's Unconventional Review: The Patriots defense was very good, even sensational at times, but couldn't force that needed big mistake.
• Nick Goss checks history to see if the Pats can bounce back after its Super Bowl loss.
• Alex Barth relays Mike Vrabel explaining how his Patriots team can learn from this loss.
• Ian Logue highlights Vrabel on choked up" Drake Maye:I can't wait to get back and coach him again"
• Ethan Hurwitz explains why the Patriots need to pay Christian Gonzalez whatever he wants.
• Doug Kyed spotlights rookie Craig Woodson, who appears to have bright future after excellent postseason.
• Cole Shelton finds that veteran free agent safety Jaylinn Hawkins really' wants to return next season.
• Sophie Weller notes unsung hero and soon-to-be-free agent DT Khyiris Tonga says Oh yeah, I would love to be back here. We'll see where the cards lay."
• Matt Legros reports that Will Campbell received advice from a pair of NFL greats after the Super Bowl.
• Bernd Buchmasser reports the Seahawks had a tell on Patriots offense in Super Bowl, defender claims.
• Ian Logue's Patriots Thoughts: Eye test reveals Maye wasn't OK Sunday night; More.
• Khari Thompson mentions rookie Kyle Williams using his speed to chase down a streaker on Sunday.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Mike Kadlick (SI) What Patriots need to do this offseason to return to Super Bowl.
• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) After Super Bowl beatdown, Patriots and QB Drake Maye must avoid the trap that befell other sophomore starters on this stage.
• Lindsay Jones (The Ringer) Drake Maye's Super Bowl was a nightmare.
• Jori Epstein (Yahoo! Sports) Seahawks powered Mike Macdonald's trademark awkward pause into the secret ingredient that crushed Drake Maye and the Patriots. Once [Drake Maye gets] on point, he gets the ball out very early, it's very hard to stop him," cornerback Devon Witherspoon said. [we had to] make him hold the ball a little bit longer than he normally do."
• Diante Lee (The Ringer) The nine story lines that will define the 2026 NFL offseason: Can the Patriots return to the Super Bowl, or will the AFC roar back? Is the NFL draft really that bad? And will someone please trade for A.J. Brown? More.
• Kevin Seifert (ESPN) NFL offseason priorities for 2026: Key dates, storylines.
• Sports Staff (Yahoo! Sports) NFL 2026 offseason schedule: When is the draft? When is free agency? More.
• NFL Nation, Jeremy Fowler, et al (ESPN) 2026 NFL offseason: Free agents, draft notes, predictions.
• Ben Solak (ESPN) How QB-needy teams can approach the bad offseason market.
• Elizabeth Merrill (ESPN) Super Bowl runner-up rings: What NFL players really think.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) Early 2026 NFL Power Rankings. Pats No. 2. /Click for commentary.