It will not take long for the 2026 New England Patriots free-agent class to find the spotlight.
The Wednesday night battle in Seattle immediately puts heat on New England’s top three pickups. The matchup and current circumstances dictate that guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, wide receiver Romeo Doubs and edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones bring their “A” games to Lumen Field.
If all three do, victory could be a real thing for the Patriots against the defending Super Bowl champs.
Here is why.
Vera-Tucker faces fierce rush
The Patriots’ signing Vera-Tucker to play left guard allowed Jared Wilson to move to his more natural position at center.
In the Super Bowl loss, Seattle’s intricate defensive stunts took advantage of the rookie Wilson and the rookie next to him at left tackle, Will Campbell.
John Jones-Imagn Images
Vera-Tucker now offers a stable presence between those two. He’ll have to be there against the Seahawks’ rush that sacked Drake Maye six times last February. Vera-Tucker has to come to play here.
Doubs has to win one-on-one
In the Super Bowl, Seattle dared a Patriots receiver other than Stefon Diggs to beat them. The Seahawks doubled Diggs much of the night, and no other Patriots player could win his matchup.
If Seattle doubles A.J. Brown as expected, it will leave Doubs as a key target for Maye.
We could see Doubs vs. Devon Witherspoon for long stretches. The former Packer will be asked to move the chains or the Patriots offense could slow to a crawl.
Jones living on the edge
When signed in the offseason, the plan was not for Jones to be the key pass rusher on the edge. Harold Landry’s prolonged injury status has changed all that.
Jones, who had a career-high seven sacks a year ago, is the lead guy, like it or not.
To win on defense, New England has to make Sam Darnold panic. It begins with Jones on the edge.
