The New England Patriots have a huge offseason ahead of them. With a new Head Coach (Mike Vrabel), new Coordinators (OC Josh McDaniels and DC Terrell Williams), and the most cap space in the NFL (roughly 125 million according to spotrac.com), it's time for the Patriots to put their money where their mouth is and improve this team.
It is no secret that the Patriots have holes all around the offense and defense. Though it might take more than one offseason to fill these holes, there are some glaring ones that need immediate attention.
My wishlist, or ideal offseason, for the Pats comes down to three main things. If they can accomplish these three things, I think they can turn the team around pretty quickly.
Get Drake Maye Some Help
Last year, the Patriots were just abysmal offensively. The receiving corps was among the worst in the league, and the lack of quality O-linemen had Drake Maye running for his life most of the time. Getting Maye guys that can protect him and catch the football is crucial this offseason, but the good thing is, there are plenty of opportunities to do that.
For starters, go out and do what you said, and "offer the moon" to Bengals Wide Receiver Tee Higgins. Higgins is a proven receiver in this league, has great hands, can win the contested and jump ball throws, and provides Drake Maye with an instant WR1 caliber player. If New England makes this splash in free agency, I truly believe under Vrabel's scheme and development skills, Higgins can become an A.J. Brown-style receiver and elevate his game to a new level.
However New England cannot stop there, because there is still a desperate need at the tackle position. I think they need to once again use the cap space they have to sign a proven tackle. In my opinion, there is not a true tackle prospect in this upcoming draft class that you can validate picking at 4. So instead, go out and get Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley and solidify that position for the next 3-4 years.
Have a Plan B
So, let's say that New England strikes out on the big guys like Higgins and Stanley, which is absolutely possible. A lot of players would rather play in a different place than cold Foxboro with an income tax. New England has fallen victim to this multiple times; however, once they do, they oftentimes get complacent. That cannot happen this offseason.
This brings me to the second item on my wishlist: if the Patriots do not hit on the big names, they should still spend the money on pieces that can improve the team.
This is a very deep free agency class and, if done the right way, can offer the Patriots a lot of what they need. First off, even if Higgins goes elsewhere, the Patriots still need a receiver. So go out and take a chance on a guy like Chris Godwin, who is coming off a brutal ankle injury that kept him out most of the 2024-25 season.
Godwin could absolutely flourish in a Josh McDaniels system that revolves around a good slot receiver. Godwin could play a Julian Edelman-type role, giving Maye a reliable target to throw to.
Players like Guard Brandon Scherff, Guard Kevin Zeitler, and Tackle Cam Robinson could also be lower-tier signings that could instantly improve the offensive line. New England needs help in all facets when it comes to the offensive line, so getting veteran players that you know can provide consistency is super important.
New England needs to realize that the only way to turn things around is to go out of their comfort zone and be aggressive. As much as they want to think they are, New England is not really a big-market team anymore and hasn't been a preferable destination since Tom Brady left. This means you might need to go deep down into the checkbook and be aggressive.
At the end of the day, it is all about what that check says, and if you don't pony up and show these free agents that you are serious about turning things around, players will just go elsewhere.
Draft Abdul Carter
With the 4th pick in this year's draft, the Patriots have an opportunity to draft a difference-maker. Is this a weaker draft class? Yes, but that does not mean there aren't guys who can play right away and succeed at a high level if used correctly.
As of right now, it is hard to tell how the top five picks will go. With the draft process still in its early stages, a lot can change between now and draft night. However, if he falls to four, I want the Patriots to draft Penn State Defensive End Abdul Carter.
Carter has the potential to be the best player in this draft class. A coverage linebacker turned pass rusher last season, Carter is fast, polished, and can dominate the line at any point. His speed and explosiveness remind me of Cowboys Defensive End and Penn State alum Micah Parsons. I think Vrabel, who is a defensive-minded coach, could have a field day developing Carter and using him in a variety of ways.
New England has not had a true, dominant pass rusher since they drafted Chandler Jones in 2012. Sure, Matthew Judon was good for them, but he would oftentimes fade away as the season went on.
Getting a player like Carter, who not only fills a big need for New England but also has the potential to be a game-wrecker, will do wonders for a defense that has not been able to get to the quarterback consistently in years.
Final Thoughts
With the hirings of Vrabel, McDaniels, and Williams, New England is already off to a good start and has shown that they are trying to turn things around. Now it is just a matter of whether or not they will do what is necessary to fill the multiple holes they have around the roster. They have the bandwidth to do it, so there is no excuse not to go into the 2025 season with hopes that they will be a much different team than last year, and maybe even an in-the-hunt kind of playoff contender.
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Catch you next time!
-Matt Hylen