The New England Patriots enter 2025 free agency with the most cap space of any team in the NFL. Armed with over $120 million in cap space, GM Eliot Wolf and head coach Mike Vrabel will have the ability to build out the roster to their liking.
One of the main areas in need of improvement for the Patriots is the offensive line. The team constantly started different offensive line combinations as they struggled with injuries, penalties, and pass protection.
The offensive line is also one of the most difficult positions to upgrade. Teams rarely let their good offensive linemen hit free agency, as it is a widely accepted belief now that games are won in the trenches.
That will, however, not stop the Patriots from being aggressive in free agency to sign a starting offensive lineman. In fact, ESPN's Mike Reiss singled out New England's top free agent target.
"At the NFL scouting combine, one rival NFL executive said some of the buzz going around was that the Patriots would aggressively pursue veteran Baltimore Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley should he make it to unrestricted free agency."Mike Reiss, ESPN
According to Reiss, the Patriots are looking to aggressively pursue the Ravens left tackle, Ronnie Stanley. The 30-year-old had a bounce-back season in 2024, playing in every game and making the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2019. After suffering a devastating ankle injury in 2021, Stanley finally got back to his old self last year, receiving a 71.0 PFF grade, his highest of the last four years.
Stanley is arguably the best offensive tackle on the market this offseason. That is why the Ravens are reportedly trying everything they can to re-sign him. The Patriots, on the other hand, have the means to outbid anyone on the open market. Whether a Super Bowl contender like the Ravens will let their starting left tackle walk in free agency remains to be seen.
If the Patriots strike out on Stanley, they can then turn their attention to other pending free agents like Cam Robinson or Tyron Smith.