New England Patriots bolster roster with Van Roten signing and edge rusher interest

The New England Patriots are making roster adjustments ahead of the 2026 NFL season. Following injuries to Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich during the preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, the team has focused on strengthening their interior offensive line depth.

To address this, the Patriots signed 36-year-old offensive lineman Greg Van Roten to a contract with a maximum value of $4.5 million. The deal includes $1 million in guarantees and various performance-based incentives, suggesting the team views him as a significant part of their depth rotation. His salary cap hit of $4.5 million is comparable to starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.

On the defensive side, analysts suggest the team may need one final trade to address a lack of edge rushing depth. Kayvon Thibodeaux of the New York Giants has been identified as a potential target to bolster the perimeter rotation alongside Christian Barmore and Milton Williams.