With the 2026 season rosters now largely in place, the Patriots had a fresh chance on Tuesday to take a swing at one of the most intriguing players still hanging around after the weekend cuts. They passed, and that could end up looking like a mistake.
The name is Zach Harrison, the 25-year-old outside linebacker the Falcons surprisingly moved on from despite his strong junior season in 2025. Atlanta drafted him only three years ago, but in a league that never stops churning through talent, he hit the waiver wire anyway. For a Patriots team staring at a thin, uncertain linebacker group, he looked like the kind of claim that made sense.
That need is real. Harold Landry will be out to start the season, and he was supposed to be the team’s top pass rusher again.
Fans had reason to hope the Patriots would try to plug that hole with someone like Harrison, especially with Mike Vrabel clearly favoring aggressive, young players. Even if New England sat at No. 31 in the waiver order and the odds were long, it still felt worth the attempt.
Instead, Harrison went unclaimed. He’s now a free agent, and after the Patriots added more players to the 53-man roster and practice squad over the last 48 hours, there’s no sign they’re planning to circle back.
That decision stands out because Harrison’s body of work is already more than just a tease. In three seasons, he has 81 combined tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, a safety, 4 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles and 8.5 sacks. He has started only 8 games and appeared in 40, which makes the production look even more interesting when you consider how little he’s actually been asked to do.
The bigger point is the upside. Harrison drew enough attention around the country that his release became a real talking point, and that doesn’t happen if teams view him as just another cutdown casualty.
The Patriots, meanwhile, are leaning into youth at linebacker. Outside of Robert Spillane, they’re expected to open the season relying on rookies Quintayvious Hutchins, Gabe Jacas and Namdi Obiazor. All three flashed during the summer, and if the coaching staff is comfortable going that route, it suggests they saw enough in practice to trust the group.
Still, from the outside, Harrison looked like a cleaner answer. He would have brought something close to veteran stability to a room that doesn’t have much of it, and he fits the kind of high-ceiling profile Vrabel has seemed to want.
At 25, he’s still developing, but he’s already shown enough to make you wonder what he could become with more snaps. Put him alongside Landry and Spillane, and there’s at least a path to more impact.
If Harrison is still unsigned later this week, the Patriots probably ought to take another look before a tough matchup with the Seahawks. Otherwise, this is the kind of missed chance they could feel quickly.
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