Patriots links 3/13/26: Holey roster, Batman!

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(Foxboro, MA 06/18/2014) Close-up of the Batman cleats running back Stevan Ridley wears at New England Patriots mini camp at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. Staff Photo by Matt West. (Photo by Matthew West/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

TEAM TALK

• Patriots updated Free Agent Tracker and Mock Draft Tracker.
• Roster Moves: Patriots announce free agent signings.
• Evan Lazar finds Patriots coaches ‘ecstatic’ about reuniting with All-Pro S Kevin Byard in free agency; The secondary is one of the best in the NFL after adding the league’s interceptions leader.
• Press Conference:Eliot Wolf. (15 min. video)
• Media Availability:Romeo Doubs, Kevin Byard, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Dre’Mont Jones, Reggie Gilliam.
• Highlight: Get to know S Kevin Byard III from the man himself. (1.13 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered: Analyzing Patriots free agency moves, best free agents available, Draft talk. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Ethan Hurwitzresets the Patriots roster after the start of free agency.
• Karen Guregian considers what is the Patriots missing piece: A.J. Brown? Maxx Crosby? Stefon Diggs?
• Karen Guregian hears from Eliot Wolf on if there is a deadline where the Patriots would drop out on A.J. Brown. “I think the only real deadlines you have are salary-cap related,”
• Doug Kyed tells us everything we learned from Eliot Wolf: Potential Patriots trades, Stefon Diggs return?
• Andrew Callahan notes Pats new left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker anticipates being cleared for voluntary practices during OTAs next month and intends to attend the start of the offseason program on April 20.
• Karen Guregian spotlights how the Drake Maye-Romeo Doubs connection has already started to take shape. “I spoke with Drake. He’s an amazing person to be around. I love his personality…”
• Ethan Hurwitz talks about how the Reggie Gilliam signing brings promise back to the fullback position.
• Alex Barth explains how Alijah Vera-Tucker fits into the Patriots’ offensive line.
• Karen Guregian talks with safety Kevin Byard about what drove him to the Patriots: A reunion with Mike Vrabel and a chance for a championship.
• Sara Marshall notes LB Dre’Mont Jones summed up why he signed with the Pats in two words: “Vrabel and winning.”
• Alex Barth posts the new uniform numbers for the Pats’ free agent signings.
• Mark Daniels says Eliot Wolf refuted the single-unnamed-source report that Tom Brady prevented Maxx Crosby trade to New England.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Alijah Vera-Tucker deal includes $4.25 million in per-game roster bonuses — per year. “It’s the largest per-game roster bonus we’ve ever seen, by far… There’s no precedent to compare it to.“
• Albert Breer (SI) Free Agency Notes: Evaluating the Kyler Murray deal in Minnesota; Plus, how the Raiders and Maxx Crosby are moving forward, and the best bargain free agent signings so far.
• Matt Okada (NFL.com) Smartest/riskiest free agent signings and trades in opening wave of moves.
• Garrett Podell (CBS Sports) Five lessons from first wave of NFL free agency: Maxx Crosby drama, J.J. McCarthy uncertainty, RB market surge. 3. Raiders, Titans follow Patriots’ blueprint.
• Matt Bowen (ESPN) 2026 NFL free agency: Ranking best players still available.
• Patrick MacAvoy (SI-Philadelphia Eagles) Eagles-AJ Brown trade still ‘in play’ as Patriots deny deadline.
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) Jaguars GM discusses ‘fraudulent’ WR Brian Thomas Jr. trade rumblings.
• Around the League (NFL.com) Every team’s full set of 2026 NFL Draft picks.
• Jimmy Traina (SI) Dispelling arguments against the NFL playing a game on Thanksgiving Eve.
• Conor Orr (SI) The NFL is to blame for the environment that caused the Maxx Crosby mess. /Both Belichick and the Patriots were severely punished for Belichick’s interpretation of the league’s rules and bylaws. Goodell described what the Pats did as a “calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid long-standing rules designed to encourage fair play.” Wouldn’t what the Ravens did fall under the same category that so upset the Commissioner?

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