New England Patriots have a big and important offseason ahead
The New England Patriots have been a floundering franchise after kicking their and the all-time best player and safety valve in the NFL, Tom Brady to the curb. He’s now retired but was still playing at a much higher level than the current squad has.
The contention in this space has and is always that championships or even good sports teams are built in the offseasons. That’s where all the preparatory scouting comes into play.
It results in key decisions about your own and about other free agents, choices in the draft, trades, and even signings of Undrafted Free Agents (UDFA), an area where the New England Patriots have surprisingly been remarkably successful over the years.
That UDFA success is an anomaly in an otherwise poor personal decision-making operation. The team has been shoddy in its drafting resulting in even their usually reticent owner, Robert Kraft’s even taking them to task before the 2022 draft. That’s never a good thing.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at this particular offseason and seek to uncover whether this team may fare any better now than it has in the past.
New England Patriots 2023 offseason objectives
This is a pivotal offseason not only for the team but for its young quarterback, Mac Jones, a former first-round draft pick. It’s a big season for Jones. Whether he’ll prove worthy of the high draft pick or prove he’s just another mid-level type who’ll be moved along is yet to be seen.
To help Jones along, the team has to provide a few players. First up has to be two or three offensive linemen. The game revolves around them. The quarterback may be the single most important factor, but if he lacks a top offensive line, it’s fairly hopeless as we saw in 2022.
For Jones, a top O-line is even more important. Jones is not immobile, but he’s certainly not a dual threat. Additionally, he lacks one attribute that without an offensive line keeping an absolutely clean pocket is deadly. That’s escapability. Jones has little and it’s a key missing ingredient.
It’s on BiIl Belichick and his personnel operation to remedy the O-line deficiencies, a task they should have begun last offseason. They punted. A lack of attention this offseason will lead to similar poor results.
They need to draft two offensive tackles., one in the first round and a top starter in free agency. Will they do what’s required? Wouldn’t bet on it. They don’t seem to grasp the obvious.
New England Patriots need game-breakers
The New England Patriots haven’t had a real game-breaker since … well, Randy Moss. When you have Tom Brady, you don’t need one and you can still achieve great things.
Jones is nowhere near that level. He needs someone who can take a five-yard pass and take it to the house. It’s imperative for the club to go get one. They whiffed with Tyquan Thornton last year. He did little.
The New England Patriots are poor (or worse) at drafting wide receivers high in the draft. Just don’t go there. Go the trade route or free agency for an established player(s).
Otherwise, expect little more from this stuck-in-the-mud offense (except Rhamondre Stevenson). They need better.
One option is to add one and use Marcus Jones in the slot and leave his career as a defensive back in the rearview mirror. He’s explosive and warrants defensive attention in game-planning.
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It says here, no game-breaker, you won’t have a very good offense. It’s a need that has to be met but it’s a stretch to think the Patriots will go get one. They basically don’t know how.
New England Patriots defense needs a big tackle
Another major need is a big defensive tackle upfront who’s a difference maker. There are too many average players in that position. They need an addition or two of real talent. That won’t happen, but one high up in the draft would help. Should be in the second round.
Other needs include a cornerback (lower in the draft please) and maybe a sideline-to-sideline linebacker. The additions last season were barely average.
In addition on offense, the team may need a running back. If the team lets running back Damien Harris walk, they will certainly need an addition there, as well.
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And, seemingly, as always since the best ever, Rob Gronkowski left the scene, the Patriots need to bolster the tight end position. They just need better players there than they have currently.
These are some thoughts on the upcoming offseason. There’s some hope here for a solid result. They did hire a real offensive coordinator and that will help.