Make no mistake, money talks in free agency. But while it is the primary driver behind decisions being made at this time of the year, it is not the only factor considered by players.
Teams have to be able to offer something more than that. Last year, with Bill Belichick gone and a rookie head coach replacing him in Jerod Mayo, the New England Patriots were lacking in that regard despite having vast resources.
This year, the situation looks different. While they did miss out on some marquee free agents they were interested in — most prominently WR Chris Godwin and OT Ronnie Stanley — they have been more competitive for players’ services, thanks to one key difference between 2024 and 2025.