New England Patriots links 2/20/25 - Rebuild the running back room

Daily news and links for Thursday.

TEAM TALK

• Transaction: Patriots release LB Sione Takitaki.
• Key dates on the 2025 NFL and Patriots calendar.
• Patriots Catch-22: NFL Scouting Combine preview. (2 hours)
• 2004 - Yes, It’s A Dynasty. Episode I: Reloaded (40 min. video) — Episode II: The regular season (52 min. video) — Episode III: The road through the AFC (40 min. video).

LOCAL LINKS

• Andrew Callahan reports the Patriots are scheduled to have at least $124 million in cap space heading into the 2025 league year.
• Mark Daniels points out how the NFL’s new salary cap will be good news for the Patriots.
• Karen Guregian talks with James White about potential draft fits for the Patriots that would work in a Josh McDaniels offense.
• Chris Mason explains how Drake Maye sees Bill Belichick’s impact still being felt by the Patriots.
• Tom E. Curran assesses the Patriots’ running back situation and explains why New England needs an upgrade.
• Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry debate all of the Patriots’ options at running back this offseason.
• Mark Daniels suggest five free agent running backs the Patriots should target.
• Sara Marshall explains how the Bengals decisions to franchise tag Tee Higgins means the Patriots now have 3 trade options to consider.
• Chris Mason notes the Chiefs aren’t expected to tag G Trey Smith, the consensus top lineman in the 2025 class.
• Phil Perry makes the case for the Patriots to consider trading up for two-way star Travis Hunter.
• Luke Graham says C Ben Brown and CB Alex Austin are two exclusive rights free agents who could make the Patriots 2025 90-man roster.
• Chris Mason’s Patriots mailbag: If not Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin, then what?
• Jerry Thornton writes Tee Higgins’ mom is calling the Bengals ‘selfish bastards’ for franchising her son, and all of New England stands with her.
• Karen Guregian reports the Patriots released LB Sione Takitaki, signed as a free agent last season.
• Nick O’Malley thinks Drake Maye may have dropped a hint about reviving the 90s blue throwback jerseys.
• Pat Lane’s 7-round mock draft 2.0: Patriots add more assets through first-round trade.
• Nick Goss gives us a 2025 mock draft roundup: Patriots should bolster d-line in Round 1. The strength of the 2025 NFL Draft is edge rushers and defensive tackles.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: Key 2025 NFL offseason dates with contractual and salary cap ramifications.
• Kevin Patra (NFL.com) NFL salary cap projected at $277.5M to $281.5M per team for 2025 season.
• Conor Orr (SI) NFL end of season power rankings. Patriots 16th. *“If I have the Bears rising, I have to consider the Patriots a candidate as well. Again, there’s some guesswork at play here but Mike Vrabel perfectly fits this moment in time. An offensive wunderkind coach is great, but those are in short supply and Vrabel has the...