Patriots’ Priority Should Be Inking These Players To Offseason Extensions

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The New England Patriots need to continue building upon the momentum that carried them to Super Bowl LX.

Drake Maye should only get better with age. Will Campbell and Jared Wilson can't play much worse than the last time we saw them, and the expectation is that they'll continue to get better with time and experience. Milton Williams and Carlton Davis III are locked into long-term deals and will be key cogs on what should continue to be a dominant defense.

If the organization is going to reach its full potential, however, it will need to not only bring aboard fresh talent but also figure out who is worth keeping around for the long haul -- with perhaps the first step coming in the form of new money for these three contributors:

CB Christian Gonzalez

Gonzalez is perhaps the league's most obvious extension candidate, as the expectation is that he'll become the NFL's highest-paid cornerback ($31 million AAV) in 2026. The Patriots won't put up much of a fight, it's just a matter of whether or not they can make the money work this offseason or if they'll need to postpone the impending payday to next offseason.

Prediction: 4 yr, $124 million

What a PBU by Gonzo!

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WR Kayshon Boutte

Boutte is eventually going to get paid, so the idea here is to keep him from getting to free agency while also locking in your most productive offensive weapon. Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas and Mack Hollins probably aren't sticking around for the long haul, so it only makes sense to lock someone into a deal as you face some uncertainty at the position.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir ($13.25 million AAV), Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp ($15 million AAV) and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy ($17.5 million AAV) are the closest things in terms of average annual value with our projected deal, which makes sense considering anything above that would be absurd and the on-field production isn't far off.

Prediction: 3 yr, $45 million

KAYSHON BOUTTE WHAT A CATCH! TOUCHDOWN @PATRIOTS!

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DT Leonard Taylor III

I couldn't write this story and only include the obvious candidates, so why not go off the board?

Taylor was legitimately fantastic across his seven games last season, despite never being a member of the active roster. The Patriots continuously elevated him from the practice squad, and while he's still with the organization on a future's contract, it might make sense to just lock him into a long-term deal and establish the depth chart behind the likes of Milton Williams and Christian Barmore.

Prediction: 3 yr, $12 million

The @Patriots tip the field goal and hold the lead!

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— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2026

More NFL: Patriots Offseason Preview: Everything Team Must Address In 2026