10 potential Patriots offseason targets to watch in Super Bowl LIX
There are a handful of standouts on each team that could potentially help the Patriots in 2025.
Super Bowl LIX will feature many of the game’s best players as the Chiefs and Eagles go head-to-head for Lombardi Trophy again just two years after their previous meeting.
The game will also feature several of the best impending free agents this offseason. While most of the core players from each team are under contract and unlikely to be moved in the forseeable future, there are a handful of standouts on each team that could potentially help the Patriots in 2025.
So, let’s take a look at the 10 potential offseason targets for the Patriots to watch in Super Bowl LIX.
Chiefs G Trey Smith
Smith is arguably the top offensive lineman set to become a free agent this offseason. The Chiefs’ right guard was named a Pro Bowler for the first time in 2024, giving up zero sacks and 26 pressures this season as Pro Football Focus graded him as the 14th-best guard this season.
Considering that Mike Onwenu is already at right guard, the Patriots would likely have to kick Smith out to left guard if they sign him. So, he might not be the most ideal fit, but the talent might just be too good to pass up.
Smith will have his hands full in Super Bowl LIV, going up against an Eagles defensive line that might be the best in the league and arguably has the league’s best defensive tackle in Jalen Carter.
Chiefs LB Nick Bolton
Two years ago, Nick Bolton was one of the heroes in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII win over the Eagles. He returned a fumble 38 yards for a touchdown after Jalen Hurts ran into him, tying the game in the second quarter. He also had a team-high nine total tackles.
Bolton will look to recreate that magic against an Eagles rushing attack that features Saquon Barkley on Sunday. He led the team in total tackles (106) to go with three sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and an interception in the regular season. His 44 run stops were also the 20th best mark among linebackers this season, per PFF.
It was evident that the Patriots needed help at linebacker after Ja’Whaun Bentley suffered a season-ending injury early in the year. Bolton could be a good fit to play alongside Bentley and Jahlani Tavai in 2025.
Chiefs DT Tershawn Wharton
The Patriots are reportedly changing defensive schemes in 2025, but they still need some help along the defensive line regardless.
Wharton is set to become one of the top interior defensive linemen on the open market this offseason. The 26-year-old had a career year in 2024, recording 29 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. His 33 total pressures was 31st among defensive linemen this season, per PFF.
In the postseason, Wharton made what could’ve been one of the biggest plays of the AFC Championship Game when he sacked Josh Allen in a goal-to-go situation in the fourth quarter. The Bills ended up scoring on fourth down on that drive, so it at least helped kill some clock as the Chiefs went on to win.
Chiefs WR DeAndre Hopkins
Ready for a possible Round 2 of the DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes.
If the Patriots are involved in a possible pursuit of the veteran star, it’ll certainly come with his glamor than it did in 2023. Hopkins, who will turn 33 this offseason, hasn’t recorded more than 40 receiving yards in a game since the end of November and only has one reception on three targets this offseason.
Still, Hopkins had some impactful moments with Kansas City earlier in the season. After the Chiefs landed him in a trade from the Titans midseason, he had five touchdowns in a six-game stretch that helped Kansas City capture the No. 1 seed in the conference.
The Patriots’ wide receiver room could certainly use some veteran guidance. If Hopkins is up for the task in 2025, he’ll also have a familiar face in Mike Vrabel, who signed the receiver to the Titans in 2023.
Chiefs EDGE Charles Omenihu
Omenihu wasn’t able to play in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory last season, tearing his ACL in their AFC title win. He’ll get that chance this year.
The veteran edge rusher made his way back to the lineup in late November, recording six total tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in six regular-season games. This postseason, Omenihu has six total tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.
The 27-year-old was productive for the Chiefs in 2023 before his injury, recording seven sacks in 11 regular-season games. He also had 6.5 sacks between the regular season and postseason with the 49ers in 2022.
Omenihu would certainly be a solid option for the Patriots along the edge as they need to revamp the position in 2025.
Eagles EDGE Josh Sweat
If the Patriots want to go for a bigger fish, though, in the edge rusher market, Sweat will likely be the top free-agent pass rusher this offseason.
Sweat has been a reliable contributor for the Eagles since 2020, recording at least six sacks in each of the last five years. The 27-year-old had another strong year, recording 41 total tackles and eight sacks. He also posted 54 pressures, which was the 21st-best mark in the league, and 27 run stops, which was 23rd in the league, playing in 63 percent of the Eagles’ defensive snaps.
Sweat has had a relatively quiet postseason to this point, recording just four total tackles and doesn’t have a sack. One game likely won’t make or break Sweat’s contractual value, but a strong outing in the Super Bowl wouldn’t hurt his case to earn one of the largest free agent contracts this offseason.
Eagles LB Zack Baun
After signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal that many glossed over last offseason, Baun will almost certainly receive a much larger payday come March.
The 28-year-old has thrived in his first season playing linebacker full time as he was mostly used as a special teamer during his four seasons with the Saints. In fact, he was one of the league’s best linebackers in 2024, recording 151 total tackles (tied for sixth in the league), 3.5 sacks, five forced fumbles (second), and an interception. His 69 run stops were also the most in the league while he was Pro Football Focus’ second-highest-rated linebacker this season, earning a first-time All-Pro nod.
Baun has continued his strong play into the postseason. He’s forced a turnover in each of the Eagles’ wins (two forced fumbles, one interception) to go with 26 total tackles. He might need to put up a similar performance to prevent the Chiefs from three-peating.
At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Baun might have that more athletic type figure that teams often look for at linebacker when they run a two-gap scheme. Considering the amount of cap space the Patriots have this offseason, signing Baun to a large contract wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Eagles G Mekhi Becton
Many Patriots fans might remember Becton from his time with the Jets, who selected him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft before he missed a lot of time due to injuries. He’s bounced back with the Eagles in 2024, though, helping Barkley rush for 2,000 yards and protecting Jalen Hurts.
After playing offensive tackle with the Jets, Becton moved to right guard with the Eagles this season. He allowed just three sacks and 25 pressures during the regular season, per PFF, showing that he can play on the inside.
As mentioned earlier, right guard is the one spot on the Patriots’ offensive line that they’ve likely got locked down for 2025. But Becton’s positional versatility could intrigue them.
Eagles DT Milton Williams
Each team in Super Bowl LIX has a standout interior defensive lineman who’s set to become a free agent.
Williams is that guy for the Eagles. The fourth-year defensive tackle arguably had his strongest season yet in 2024, recording 24 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He also had 40 pressures in the regular season, which was the 19th-best mark among defensive linemen in 2024, per PFF.
Similar to Sweat, Williams’s box score stats haven’t popped this postseason, recording just three total tackles. But while he hasn’t recorded a sack, he’s posted 10 total pressures over three games.
Maybe Williams can finally get a sack in the Super Bowl?
Eagles EDGE Bryce Huff
Unlike the first nine names on here, Huff isn’t set to become a free agent in 2025. However, he could become a trade candidate for the Eagles at some point this offseason in order to create cap space.
The former Jets edge rusher hasn’t lived up to the three-year, $51 million deal he signed to join the Eagles last offseason. As he’s mostly been used as a situational pass rusher in his career, Huff only recorded 2.5 sacks and 13 total tackles in the regular season. He hasn’t posted a sack since early November, missing some time late in the regular season due to a wrist injury.
Huff’s been a non-factor in the postseason as well. He’s only played 13 defensive snaps, getting benched for the Eagles Divisional Round win over the Rams. He’ll obviously have a chance to redeem himself in the Super Bowl, though.
Even Huff has a big game in Super Bowl LIX, trading him would be one of the easiest ways for Philadelphia to clear up cap space. Its set to only have $18 million in cap room this offseason and trading Huff with a post-June 1 designation would open up over $4 million in cap space, per OverTheCap.com.
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