New England Patriots: 5 offseason storylines of intrigue

The New England Patriots won’t get to celebrate their sixth Super Bowl championship for long.  This will be another offseason of intrigue for Bill Belichick and co.

What a difference a season makes.  Last offseason, following a Super Bowl LII loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the New England Patriots were faced with offseason questions that were predicted to end the dynasty.

The Bill Belichick and Tom Brady relationship was fractured, and no one was having fun in New England (according to Lane Johnson).  The NFL media and Patriots fans were enamored in the mysterious case of Malcolm Butler and Rob Gronkowski contemplated retirement until the last possible moment.

Fast forward a year and the team is Super Bowl LIII champions.  Suddenly, Tom Brady is smiling ear-to-ear and ready to go for another season.  Gronkowski is still contemplating retirement, but he seems more content with the team than he did a year ago.

Personnel wise, the Patriots have lost a few coaches, but the biggest questions surround which players they will bring back and how they will improve certain areas where they lack depth and talent.  One of those areas is the wide receiver position in which rumors have already begin to fly about possible additions like Golden Tate, Demaryius Thomas and one Odell Beckham Jr.

On the defensive side of the football, the New England Patriots will look to get younger and faster as well.  Through free agency and the NFL draft, Bill Belichick will be a busy man in that area like he always is.

Like every offseason, this will be an eventful one for the defending Super Bowl champions and here are five storylines of intrigue that will spark of the offseason.