Following their Super Bowl 60 loss, the Patriots quickly moved on to the offseason.
On Tuesday evening, the team announced the signing of 11 players to future contracts. The headliner in this group was playoff hero Leonard Taylor. The young defensive tackle came to the Patriots after being released by the New York Jets and made an impact in New England.
Taylor, 26, appeared in three regular-season games and four playoff games for the Patriots. His biggest impact came in the AFC Championship game, where he blocked a game-tying field goal in the fourth quarter.
Taylor played 18 defensive snaps and eight special teams snaps in Super Bowl 60.
The Patriots also signed 10 others to future contracts: guard Mehki Butler, linebacker Amari Gainer, receiver John Jiles, tight end Marshall Lang, tackle Lorenz Metz, defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr., linebacker Otis Reese, guard Andrew Rupcich, safety John Saunders Jr., and receiver Jeremiah Webb.
All of Tuesday’s signings ended the 2025 season on the Patriots’ practice squad.
The team ended the season with 17 players on their practice squad. Six players didn’t receive future contracts with the Patriots: running back D’Ernest Johnson, cornerback Miles Battle, safety Richie Grant, offensive lineman Brenden Jaimes, linebacker Patrick Johnson, and receiver Trent Sherfield.
Future contracts are one-year, non-guaranteed deals signed after each NFL season. The deals often don’t count against the salary cap and prevent players from negotiating with other teams while also earning a spot on the team’s 90-man roster for the offseason.
One of the Patriots’ most successful future contract signings was Dion Lewis in 2015. The running back spent three seasons in New England and led the Patriots in rushing in 2017.