The New England Patriots have entered nearly every game this season knowing they were at a talent disadvantage.
Their plan has been for a massive overhaul of the roster this offseason. They’ll have more salary-cap space than any other team. And they’ll have at least a top-10 draft pick, likely even higher.
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Let’s look at the additions that could arrive and bring some optimism to a team that needs it. Free agency doesn’t begin until mid-March, but here’s an early look at the top names to know for the Patriots.
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Wide receiver
Let’s start with perhaps the most obvious position of need. Everyone who follows the Patriots knows Tee Higgins will be the big target at wide receiver this offseason. The Patriots have tried twice in the last year to land a top-end receiver (Calvin Ridley and Brandon Aiyuk) but struck out both times. Now, free agency almost feels like Higgins or bust for the Patriots, who have the money to spend and a bigger need at wide receiver than anyone.
Would the Patriots have to overpay to sign Higgins? Yes, probably. But the thinking is that while you’ve got Drake Maye on a cost-controlled rookie contract, you can overspend elsewhere to ensure he’s surrounded by the best talent possible. Brace yourself for a massive offer from the Patriots for Higgins, potentially around $28 million annually.
There are knocks on Higgins, like his durability and the fact that he’s only been a No. 2 receiver with the Bengals (a byproduct of playing next to Ja’Marr Chase). But with a terrible wide receiver situation, the Patriots have put themselves in a spot where they must be the high bidder on the best available receiver. In this free-agent class, that’s Higgins.
Still, it’s not a given he’d say yes, even if the Pats have the highest offer. If he signs elsewhere, there are no great options to pivot to. But there are reliable players. Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs and DeAndre Hopkins would be in the next tier of free-agent receivers.
Godwin is the only one mentioned above still in his 20s (he’ll be 29 next season), so he’s probably the only one you’d want to give guaranteed money for multiple years.
Perhaps that ups the urgency of making sure they land Higgins even if they end up overpaying.
Offensive line
If wide receiver is priority 1 for New England, the offensive line is 1A. And here’s where things get tricky.
Top-10 offensive tackles in their prime don’t typically hit the open market. They’re too valuable to teams to become free agents since they tend to sign extensions well before they can test the waters.
So maybe it’s best to start by lowering expectations about what’s available. On the other hand, the Patriots’ offensive tackle situation is so bleak that just about anyone would be an upgrade over what they’ve been trotting out.
Cam Robinson, who was traded to the Vikings, and Ronnie Stanley of the Ravens will be the top options on the open market, and both could come in and provide top-15 play at their positions. So after Higgins, signing one of those two should be the focus.
Still, you could argue that the Patriots need two new offensive tackles since Vederian Lowe is likely best as a backup and rookie Caedan Wallace, their third-round pick last spring, hasn’t returned from injury. So should they invest in another expensive free agent or save their first-round pick for an offensive tackle (in what is an admittedly weak draft class for offensive tackles)?
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We haven’t mentioned guard, which could also be a position of need. One intriguing option is Mekhi Becton, the Jets’ first-round pick in 2020. He struggled for them as an offensive tackle but has been much better this season with the Eagles as a guard (even though he’s massive for the position at 6-foot-7). Maybe someone like that with position versatility and potential upside could fit with the Patriots. Other free-agent guards to know are the Chiefs’ Trey Smith, the Bears’ Teven Jenkins and the Colts’ Will Fries.
Cornerback
We haven’t talked much about this position because Christian Gonzalez has been so good, but this is an under-discussed need for the Patriots. They could use a true outside corner as Jonathan Jones enters free agency (and potentially moves to safety).
Like offensive tackle, top-shelf cornerbacks generally don’t hit the market in their prime, but there are a few options this March.
None of the top free agents are great athletes the way Gonzalez is, but the 49ers’ Charvarius Ward looks the part of an outside corner (he’s tall with good straight-line speed, even though he struggles laterally) and will be one of the top options even though he has struggled this season (he ranks 94th out of 115 cornerbacks, according to PFF). The Lions’ Carlton Davis would be another good option and was playing well this season before he was sidelined by a fractured jaw. Finally, the Vikings’ Byron Murphy Jr. could be intriguing since he has thrived in Brian Flores’ system, which requires players to be versatile and play a number of different roles.
Pass rusher
The Patriots will get an up-close look at one of the top free agents-to-be when Khalil Mack and the Chargers come to town this weekend. Mack, 33, continues to thrive and has been one of the league’s best defensive players over the last decade. He may prefer to join a Super Bowl contender this late in his career, but if not, he could be the kind of experienced leader the Patriots lack.
An option with more upside (though potentially more complications) would be Haason Reddick, the Jets edge rusher who missed the first half of the season while holding out. Since returning, his play hasn’t been at a level likely to yield a massive deal. But at the same time, the Patriots need talent in a bad way, and that could make Reddick an option.
Matthew Judon is going to be a free agent, too, but it’s not like his time ended very positively in New England.
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(Photo of Tee Higgins: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)