The New England Patriots entered the offseason with more cap space than any other team in the NFL. They made sweeping changes to the roster in order to fit new head coach Mike Vrabel's scheme.
Naturally, there were a few questionable moves among them. Let's take a look at four that could backfire on GM Eliot Wolf and the Patriots.
Trading Joe Milton III to the Cowboys
New England sent Milton and a seventh-round pick to Dallas in exchange for a fifth-round pick. This was a disappointing return for Pats fans.
Milton was a sixth-round pick last season. He had a promising rookie campaign, impressing in his limited opportunities. He also had a ton of hype surrounding him this offseason. Considering how many teams needed a quarterback when free agency began, getting only a fifth-round pick for the talented QB certainly has the potential to backfire on New England.
Cutting David Andrews & Ja'Whaun Bentley
Head coach Mike Vrabel wanted to put his stamp on the team, moving on from team leaders. Longtime team captains David Andrews and Ja'Whaun Bentley were surprisingly cut in the offseason.
While it is understandable that the Patriots wanted to have a fresh start and get back to winning ways, losing two key veterans with organizational know-how and locker room presences could hurt the team next season.
Breaking the Bank for WR Stefon Diggs
The Patriots desperately needed an elite wide receiver to pair with Drake Maye before his second season, but whether Stefon Diggs was the right name is a different question. While it makes sense for New England to take a gamble on the talented Diggs, his three-year, $69 million deal is too rich for a 31-year-old coming off an ACL tear.
Ignoring the Offensive Line
One of the biggest areas of weakness for the Patriots last season was the offensive line. Due to constant injuries and underperformance, the Pats failed to find a group that worked. Instead of addressing it in free agency, the Patriots left it to the NFL Draft to tackle the weakness.
Sure, they signed veteran right tackle Morgan Moses, but the starting offensive line still leaves plenty to be desired.