Patriots Create $3.1M Cap Room by Releasing Antonio Gibson — How the Backfield Picture Shifts

By cutting RB antonio gibson the Patriots immediately free $3. 1 million in cap space while taking a $1 million dead-money charge. That financial clearance matters because it accelerates a roster reset at running back and on special teams: an injured veteran is off the books, a younger back has emerged, and the team now has more flexibility to prioritize health and depth heading into the offseason. Here’s the part that matters for roster construction and cap planning.

What the change means for Antonio Gibson and the Patriots' roster composition

This move shifts the Patriots’ running-back hierarchy and short-term planning. With antonio gibson released, the most notable backs remaining under contract are TreVeyon Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson and Terrell Jennings, concentrating carries and return duties among those players. The $3. 1 million saved is immediate room to reallocate — whether to rehabbing players, adding depth, or addressing other roster needs — while the $1 million dead-money figure limits but does not negate flexibility.

• Immediate cap effect: $3. 1M in savings against the payroll and a $1M dead-money charge.
• Depth implications: an injured veteran role is vacated, increasing reliance on younger and incumbent backs.
• Special-teams impact: return-man responsibilities will need reassigning after a player who also contributed on returns is gone.

It’s easy to overlook, but roster moves like this often serve dual purposes: they manage money and clarify who will be counted on in the coming season. The real question now is how the team deploys the newly available cap room and whether it targets experience or depth.

Release details, recent production and timeline

The club released RB Antonio Gibson after two seasons and a three-year, $11. 2 million contract signed in 2024. Over those two seasons he appeared in 22 games with three starts for the team. His on-field production included a more substantial 2024 (120 carries for 538 yards and one rushing touchdown, plus 23 receptions for 206 yards) and a curtailed 2025 when he played five games before suffering a torn ACL. In 2025 he totaled 25 carries for 106 yards and one touchdown, two receptions for six yards, and contributed as a kick-returner.

Career context provided with the release notes that he began his time with the team after signing in March 2024 and had prior NFL experience before that signing. The club also signed multiple futures and practice-squad players in parallel roster moves, underscoring a broader roster turnover strategy.

Micro timeline (verifiable points from recent team activity):

• March 2024: Signed a three-year deal with the team as a free agent.
• 2024 season: Primary contributions on offense and special teams, including 538 rushing yards and 206 receiving yards.
• 2025 season: Limited to five games before a season-ending ACL tear; subsequently released.

Key takeaways:

• The release clears short-term cap space and imposes a modest dead-money hit.
• It formalizes a transition toward younger/other backs already on the roster for carries and returns.
• Special-teams responsibilities will need reassignment after losing a return contributor.
• Expect roster activity that uses the freed space to shore up depth or insurance for the backfield.

The bigger signal here is that the team is prioritizing cap flexibility and younger depth after a season-ending injury and the internal rise of a rookie back. If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up, roster economics and injury recovery routines often shape offseason strategy as much as player performance.

The real test will be how the club allocates the cleared $3. 1 million and whether that results in immediate additions or restructured contracts that change the running-back pecking order.