After an impressive season under new head coach Mike Vrabel, the New England Patriots' 2025 campaign is over. The fairytale season ended with a dud, as the Patriots fell 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60, serving as a major reality check after head coach Mike Vrabel's first year behind the bench.
The Seahawks' elite defense overwhelmed the Patriots' offense throughout the game, finishing with six sacks and forcing three turnovers. Although New England's defense played well, for the most part, the offense couldn't match its play, adding to the list of needs that executive vice president of player personnel and de facto general manager Elio Wolf must tackle this offseason.
Now that the season is in the rear-view mirror, the Patriots' focus turns to the offseason, where they must improve these three areas if they want to get back on track.
Top 3 Patriots Offseason Priorities After SB60 Loss
1. Bolster the Pass Rush
Even though the Patriots' defense played well in the Super Bowl under interim defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr, that doesn't mean the Patriots shouldn't look to make an upgrade. The most glaring spot for an upgrade is at the edge rusher position.
New England needs to look at bringing in a strong edge rusher to complement Milton Williams on the interior. While Harold Landry and K'Lavon Chaisson had moments throughout the season, Landry's health was in question near the end, and Chaisson is a free agent. Adding an impact player at the position would make the lives of the other defenders easier by generating pressure more quickly.
One name to keep an eye on is the Las Vegas Raiders' Maxx Crosby. After spending his whole career with the Raiders, it seems like the time between the two is coming to an end. Though Crosby could cost a lot in terms of value to trade, given his production with the Raiders, he and Williams could elevate the Patriots' defense to another level.
2. Adding Another Weapon for Drake Maye
Something that stood out during the Super Bowl was the lack of explosive offensive plays the Patriots produced. During the game, the Patriots' offense never seemed to fully click. Adding in another talented weapon for quarterback Drake Maye would help make his job easier.
Two areas in particular that should get looked at are the WR and TE rooms. Starting with the receivers, Stefon Diggs is getting older, but he still had a productive year. Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins turned in solid seasons, but an upgrade would help the offense. For this to happen, New England could look to the draft this year, which includes many quality receivers they could consider.
Tight end-wise, Hunter Henry has been a reliable target, but, like Diggs is getting older. Backup TE Austin Hooper is a free agent and could be looked to upgrade. Finding a young tight end for Maye could give him a good weapon for years to come. An option in the draft is Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq, who would be a great addition to the Patriots' offense.
3. Upgrading the Offensive Line
In Super Bowl 60, the offensive line was one of the Patriots' most glaring issues. This isn't just a one-game issue, either; the Patriots just allowed the most sacks in a single playoff run in NFL history, with 21. Given this performance, the O-line is the biggest area of need this offseason.
The two players most in question in this game were rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson. Beginning with Wilson, the ideal move for Wilson would be kicking over to center. When Wilson was at Georgia, he primarily played center and is more of a fit for that position.
Campbell, on the other hand, is the bigger story. Last year's draft cycle saw plenty of conversations regarding Campbell's future as a left tackle in the NFL due to his arm length. After struggling in the postseason, the talk about shifting Campbell over could come into fruition.
No matter your take on the Campbell situation, New England should look for an upgrade at left guard (if he stays) or left tackle (if he kicks inside). Interior-wise, you could look at veteran guard Joel Bitonio. Left Tackle-wise, it's tougher to find one, but you could look at Kadyn Proctor and Calab Lomu in the draft. The Patriots might need to move up to acquire either of them, but it would be worth it to secure the left side of the O-line.