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The New England Patriots needed to clear a spot on their 90-man offseason roster after completing their trade for wide receiver A.J. Brown, and they did so by moving a member of their tight end group to injured reserve. Julian Hill, who had recently suffered a knee injury in practice, was placed on IR on Monday in a move that has ended his 2026 season before it truly even began.
With the dust from the Brown trade having cleared a bit assess what the move means for New England.
When the Patriots signed Hill to a...
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“Opportunity” was a common word used as New England Patriots defensive tackle Cory Durden fielded questions from the media following the team’s OTAs practice on Tuesday.
Durden, 27, has a chance to take on a larger role along the defensive front in 2026 after former Patriots nose tackle Khyiris Tonga left in free agency to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. His projected replacement sees the vacated spot as an opportunity to take another step in his career, saying, “The sky is the limit.”
“Last year, I learned I’m a good pro,” Durden continued. “I have the ability to be...
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Will Campbell was not himself down the stretch last season.
After suffering a tear in his MCL that cost him four regular-season games, Campbell returned for the Patriots’ regular-season finale and playoff run. The rookie struggled upon his return, as executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf later noted that three of Campbell’s four worst games came during the postseason.
Wolf also acknowledged the struggles were largely due to Campbell losing lower-body strength because of the injury. This offseason, regaining that strength was at the top of Campbell’s to-do list.
“Getting back healthy, I did [physical therapy] five days...
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The New England Patriots enjoyed some strong attendance since the start of their voluntary offseason workout program in late April, but Kayshon Boutte has been suspiciously absent so far. His decision to stay away comes in light of constant trade rumors surrounding the fourth-year wide receiver.
He apparently welcomes those as well. In fact, as was recently pointed out by ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Boutte has shown interest in leaving New England.
“One wide receiver I’m still suspecting that something might happen with is Kayshon Boutte,” Schefter said on his podcast. “He has not been there for the offseason program....
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Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has coached some of the best pass catchers in football over his career. He’ll now add A.J. Brown to that list.
McDaniels met Brown on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after the Patriots traded a pair of draft picks to acquire the All-Pro wide receiver. Just hours later, the two were on the practice field together for OTAs.
While Brown expectedly was eased into the action, he made a quick impression on his new offensive coordinator, who saw shades of a Patriots hall of Famer.
“This is a big man,” McDaniels said. “Randy [Moss] was...
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The 2025 season was Ashton Grant’s first as a full-time quarterbacks coach in the National Football League.
Grant oversaw the Patriots’ quarterback room as Drake Maye emerged as an MVP candidate, with Maye crediting Grant — who came from a similar offensive system in Cleveland to the one Maye ran as a rookie — for helping him transition into Josh McDaniels’ offense.
That work did not go unnoticed around the league. Earlier this offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders requested permission to interview Grant for their vacant offensive coordinator position. Grant ultimately declined the opportunity and instead chose to remain in...
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Even including a challenging playoff stretch, the New England Patriots passing offense can safely been classified as one of the most efficient in the NFL during the 2025 season. And yet, it was still not operating at the peak of its powers: despite MVP runner-up Drake Maye running the show, shortcomings across the board eventually prevented the unit from reaching a level high enough to win the Super Bowl.
One of those shortcomings was the wide receiver position performing at an inconsistent level and lacking some true difference-makers. Whether or not A.J. Brown will be just that for the unit...
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As the New England Patriots transitioned from the second to the third phase of their voluntary offseason workout program, they did so without cornerback Christian Gonzalez in the building. Despite earlier participation, the Pro Bowl cornerback opted to stay away recently in an apparent contract dispute.
Eligible for a contract extension for the first time in his career, the fourth-year cornerback saw his fifth-year contract option exercised earlier in the offseason. Negotiations about a long-term deal, however, have not yielded the desired results just yet.
And yet, head coach Mike Vrabel believes that Gonzalez will be with his teammates come...
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The A.J. Brown trade is now official as the New England Patriots wrap up their final week of OTAs — which included the media being in attendance for Tuesday’s practice.
So, submit any Patriots questions — or whatever else is on your mind — down in the comments below or on Twitter using #PostPulpit.
Stay tuned for Friday’s updated mailbag.
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The New England Patriots were originally set to hold nine organized team activities over the course of a three-week period, leading up to their mandatory minicamp in mid-June. As head coach Mike Vrabel announced on Tuesday, however, the team has altered that schedule and shortened its offseason program.
Instead of nine OTAs, the Patriots will only hold six. Minicamp, meanwhile, has been moved up a week to June 9-11.
“We have moved, after some deliberation, the mandatory minicamp to next week, June 9, 10 and 11” Vrabel explained ahead of Tuesday’s practice.
“That will give us Monday to clean up...
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