After six seasons that felt like an eternity to (admittedly spoiled) Boston sports fans, the New England Patriots returned to the Super Bowl in 2026. The game didn't end how the Pats and their fans hoped, but head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye are a clear start of something new coming to Foxborough.
There's still a lot of offseason to go before New England opens the 2026-27 season on September 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Patriots fans have high expectations for the team's additions after their unlikely Super Bowl run, and after the recent announcement that they plan to release Stefon Diggs, they have a lot of work to do. Many fans are hopeful for a trade that would bring wide receiver A. J. Brown to New England, but not everyone is all that optimistic.
Following years of dominance in the Tom Brady Era, Robert Kraft's spending decisions have disappointed Patriots fans until he began trying to get back on track in 2025-26. The team's moves to build around Mac Jones were disappointing (just as he was, unfortunately), and some fans fear it could revert to a more conservative offseason strategy, much like another Boston team has in recent history.
Andy Hart, co-host of "WEEI Afternoons" quote Tweeted a response to an Ian Rapoport segment calling for the Patriots to make a big move, such as trading for Brown, to make up for the loss of Diggs. Hart called out the Boston Red Sox in the process.
WEEI radio host hopes Patriots learn from Red Sox's mistakes and go all-in this offseason after latest Super Bowl appearance
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: The #Patriots released WR Stefon Diggs today, clearing the deck for a possible big-time acquisition. pic.twitter.com/lCuJJwcBYZ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2026
"Fingers crossed Vrabel & Co are ready to live up to the hope and hype around the Patriots heading into free agency and we aren’t just set up for disappointment like so often with the Red Sox," Hart wrote.
In the wake of their historic 2018 World Series win with the winningest team in club history, the Red Sox dismembered the team in favor of a long "rebuild" to save money. For nearly a half-decade, Boston put forth pathetic performances in free agent races and kept below the luxury tax, landing in fifth place in three of the six seasons between their last World Series win and their 2025 Wild Card appearance.
Red Sox fans are hopeful that attitude toward spending is entirely in the past, although the team's embarassing loss on Alex Bregman leaves room for some doubt. Boston's latest free agent and trade additions bring it over the second Competitive Balance Tax threshold for this season and it's one of the more well-rounded teams in the American League.
The Patriots and Red Sox are in a similar developmental phase after their recent playoff apperarances following a brief drought. Following the Red Sox's 2018 — or even 2021 — playbook would be a huge mistake for Kraft and the Patriots, whose contending window is wide open.