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The tag deadline came and went on Tuesday, ending NFL teams' window to use the franchise and transition tags on players with expiring contracts.
Some players were stuck with a one-year placeholder, while others will be allowed to test their value on the open market. It was the final hurdle that ultimately set the stage for the start of NFL free agency next week.
The New England Patriots are expected to be active in the offseason in an effort to get back to the Super Bowl after coming up short in the big game against the Seattle Seahawks last season. They will have several options available to them at a multitude of different positions in free agency.
Here are five major takeaways from the franchise tag deadline:
To no one's surprise, the Patriots didn't tag any of their pending free agents for the 2026 offseason.
Some of the key names on that list are veteran defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson and safety Jaylinn Hawkins. All three were major contributors to the team in 2025, but the team wasn't going to break the bank to keep them on a one-year deal.
With that said, the Patriots would love to have all three back on their roster next season. However, the likelihood of that happening seems even slimmer with all three testing the open market.
A split between the Cincinnati Bengals and star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson has been a long time coming. It will finally happen now that the former First-Team All-Pro defender will get an opportunity to test the open market as a free agent.
The Patriots should be one of many teams interested in Hendrickson's services, assuming the price is right. Hendrickson is 31 years old and coming off a year where he only appeared in seven games. It would be a risk adding another banged-up, aging defender to play opposite of Harold Landry III.
With that said, it could also pay off in a major way if both can remain healthy for an entire season. Before the injury-plagued year, Hendrickson was coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons.
One possible wide receiver target that has flown under the radar for the Patriots is Indianapolis Colts wideout Alec Pierce. Some believed the Colts would consider franchise tagging Pierce by the deadline, but they instead used the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones after failing to reach a long-term deal.
That means the ascending 25-year-old wide receiver is set to hit the open market for the first time in his NFL career. Granted, the Colts are still doing everything they can to get an extension done before free agency officially opens next week, but it might make more sense for Pierce to try to maximize his potential on the open market by listening to outside offers.
Going after Pierce would save the Patriots the draft picks it could cost to trade for Philadelphia Eagles wideout A.J. Brown. They'd be getting another 1,000-yard receiving target to attack outside of the numbers, which would be the perfect complement to Stefon Diggs in the slot.
It's a more cost-effective move that would give the Patriots the necessary breathing room to address other needs on the roster.
As expected, the Atlanta Falcons used their franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts. That doesn't mean that the team couldn't use the tag as a placeholder to trade Pitts later, but it would seem that both sides are working toward a long-term extension.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry is 31 years old, and Austin Hooper is a pending free agent. The team desperately needs to get younger at the position. They could have swung for the fences by signing Pitts as a free agent, but they obviously won't get that chance.
So, now what?
The Patriots could still take a swing at the Baltimore Ravens' pending free agent tight end, Isaiah Likely. They could also shift their focus to adding help through the 2026 NFL draft.
Along with the Falcons and Pitts, the Dallas Cowboys opted to use their franchise tag on star wide receiver George Pickens. The biggest question mark is how Pickens will react to playing on a one-year placeholder instead of a long-term deal, which he earned with his elite play with the Cowboys last season.
If Pickens forces Dallas' hand, the Patriots could be one of many teams vying for his services. There is no denying Pickens' incredible talent after he racked up a career-high 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. It might be New England's best chance at landing a true No. 1 receiver, who is still in the prime of his career.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 5 major Patriots takeaways from franchise tag deadline
Continue reading...
Some players were stuck with a one-year placeholder, while others will be allowed to test their value on the open market. It was the final hurdle that ultimately set the stage for the start of NFL free agency next week.
The New England Patriots are expected to be active in the offseason in an effort to get back to the Super Bowl after coming up short in the big game against the Seattle Seahawks last season. They will have several options available to them at a multitude of different positions in free agency.
Here are five major takeaways from the franchise tag deadline:
Patriots did not use the tag
To no one's surprise, the Patriots didn't tag any of their pending free agents for the 2026 offseason.
Some of the key names on that list are veteran defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson and safety Jaylinn Hawkins. All three were major contributors to the team in 2025, but the team wasn't going to break the bank to keep them on a one-year deal.
With that said, the Patriots would love to have all three back on their roster next season. However, the likelihood of that happening seems even slimmer with all three testing the open market.
Trey Hendrickson will finally hit the open market
A split between the Cincinnati Bengals and star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson has been a long time coming. It will finally happen now that the former First-Team All-Pro defender will get an opportunity to test the open market as a free agent.
The Patriots should be one of many teams interested in Hendrickson's services, assuming the price is right. Hendrickson is 31 years old and coming off a year where he only appeared in seven games. It would be a risk adding another banged-up, aging defender to play opposite of Harold Landry III.
With that said, it could also pay off in a major way if both can remain healthy for an entire season. Before the injury-plagued year, Hendrickson was coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons.
Could a new receiving option emerge for the Patriots?
One possible wide receiver target that has flown under the radar for the Patriots is Indianapolis Colts wideout Alec Pierce. Some believed the Colts would consider franchise tagging Pierce by the deadline, but they instead used the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones after failing to reach a long-term deal.
That means the ascending 25-year-old wide receiver is set to hit the open market for the first time in his NFL career. Granted, the Colts are still doing everything they can to get an extension done before free agency officially opens next week, but it might make more sense for Pierce to try to maximize his potential on the open market by listening to outside offers.
Going after Pierce would save the Patriots the draft picks it could cost to trade for Philadelphia Eagles wideout A.J. Brown. They'd be getting another 1,000-yard receiving target to attack outside of the numbers, which would be the perfect complement to Stefon Diggs in the slot.
It's a more cost-effective move that would give the Patriots the necessary breathing room to address other needs on the roster.
This tight end dream likely died for the Patriots
As expected, the Atlanta Falcons used their franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts. That doesn't mean that the team couldn't use the tag as a placeholder to trade Pitts later, but it would seem that both sides are working toward a long-term extension.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry is 31 years old, and Austin Hooper is a pending free agent. The team desperately needs to get younger at the position. They could have swung for the fences by signing Pitts as a free agent, but they obviously won't get that chance.
So, now what?
The Patriots could still take a swing at the Baltimore Ravens' pending free agent tight end, Isaiah Likely. They could also shift their focus to adding help through the 2026 NFL draft.
If Pitts is off the table, what about George Pickens?
Along with the Falcons and Pitts, the Dallas Cowboys opted to use their franchise tag on star wide receiver George Pickens. The biggest question mark is how Pickens will react to playing on a one-year placeholder instead of a long-term deal, which he earned with his elite play with the Cowboys last season.
If Pickens forces Dallas' hand, the Patriots could be one of many teams vying for his services. There is no denying Pickens' incredible talent after he racked up a career-high 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. It might be New England's best chance at landing a true No. 1 receiver, who is still in the prime of his career.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 5 major Patriots takeaways from franchise tag deadline
Continue reading...
