What happened: Sam Acho said on ESPN that the Patriots have addressed their on-field weaknesses this offseason, but flagged the difficulty of New England's schedule and the makeup of the roster's interior as his main concerns heading into the 2026 season.

Why it matters: The comment lands amid an active Patriots offseason that has included trade speculation around receiver Kayshon Boutte and a push to extend cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Analysts weighing the team's schedule and roster depth reflects broader uncertainty about how the reshaped roster holds up against a tougher slate.

What to watch: Training camp will offer the first real look at whether the interior questions Acho raised hold up before the regular season begins.