NFL Free Agency: What Should We Now Expect From The Patriots?

January 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick against the Denver Broncos in the 2013 AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Six days of free agency is in the books, and the Patriots did just about as well as they possibly could in that time period. The secondary is now up there with the NFL’s elite, and the receiver position is upgraded. Two of the biggest concerns heading into this offseason are now solved, which allows New England to focus on other things moving forward.

If it were up to us fans, Bill Belichick and company would go out and trade for Robert Quinn, and maybe add Larry Fitzgerald while we’re at it. But there is a reason why we don’t run the franchise. I think the Pats are done being “flashy”, and will now go back to their roots, and make minor, smart moves.

Adding to the offensive and defensive line is probably something New England should do, as it is one of the biggest needs as we move towards the draft. Linebacker Dane Fletcher signed with Tampa Bay yesterday, which makes gaining depth at the linebacker position also important. But this doesn’t mean they should drop $40 million on an edge rusher. Much like they did with Mark Anderson and Andre Carter, they should “bargain” players, who have potential to really help out the team in 2014.

Henry Melton is still on the open market, and with Vince Wilfork asking for a release, replacing him with Melton could be an option. However I don’t think that is the direction the Pats will go, especially with Louis Nix III available in this year’s draft.

When it is all said and done, I wouldn’t expect the Patriots front office to do much going forward. They got their “big guns”, and now it is time to fill out the roster with quality depth guys, and focus on the upcoming draft. Yes, there are still a few big needs on their roster (tight end, defensive tackle, defensive end), but they won’t be filled by spending a lot of money on the remaining “middle-tier” free agents.