New England Patriots: 15 best free agent acquisitions of all-time

The New England Patriots have had their fair share of success in the Bill Belichick era, signing a number of notable free agents to improve the team.

With the 2019 free agency period now just days away from opening, all 32 NFL teams are splitting their time between analyzing results from the NFL Scouting Combine, assessing free agents from other teams and making tough football and financial decisions regarding their own pending free agents.

It’s a busy time of year for everyone, but especially for the New England Patriots. Bill Belichick’s squad is roughly a month behind most of their competitors in terms of formulating offseason strategies, thanks to another deep postseason run capped with a Super Bowl victory.

Granted, it’s a high-class problem to have; any team would rather start their offseason preparations late if it meant winning a championship in the process.

To paraphrase Belichick himself though: last year is last year. The Patriots have already turned the page on their sixth Lombardi Trophy and the 2018 season. They now have their sights set on breaking a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl championships in NFL history.

Especially with Tom Brady claiming he only plans to play another two or three years at most, the window might be closing fast for this current Brady/Belichick “dynastic duo” to win a seventh ring together.

So while the current Patriots focus their attention on the future, let’s take a look for ourselves at the past, as we reflect on and appreciate some of the greatest free agent signings in New England franchise history.

Honorable Mentions: Mark Anderson, Leigh Bodden, Alan Branch, Andre Carter, Heath Evans, Christian Fauria, Bobby Hamilton, Dion Lewis, Jabaal Sheard, Brian Waters