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Do the New England Patriots need to blow it all up after 2022?

By Lou Scataglia

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 02: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft talks with offensive line coach Matt Patricia during pregame warmups before a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 02, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 02: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft talks with offensive line coach Matt Patricia during pregame warmups before a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 02, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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The New England Patriots do not have a great chance at making the playoffs this year. Should they rip the Band-Aid off and blow it all up?  Not everyone will see eye to eye on this, but it’s something that is worth considering, right?  At 6-6, the Patriots have no offensive identity and a defense that continually has to carry more weight a defense should.

Bill Belichick made two puzzling coaching decisions this past offseason which have contributed to a poor offensive performance.  Mac Jones has largely regressed in year two and the offensive line, which should be one of the best in the league, has not looked like it.

There aren’t too many holes on the team, but the team does not have a ton of elite players either.  They’re in a unique spot in regards to their roster.  Should they try and re-sign some of their pending free agents, field mostly the same roster in 2023, and try this again?

Or, should they part with some of their veterans, acquire draft capital, and try to build this thing from the ground up?  There are a few teams who have gone or are going this route currently with more of a full rebuilding mentality.

The Miami Dolphins a few years ago were a team like this.  They traded a bunch of their veteran players, drafted Tua Tagovailoa and tried to pull themselves through a full rebuild.  For them, it ended up working out well, as they are well-positioned for the future.

The Detroit Lions also tried this when they traded away Matthew Stafford, signaling they were rebuilding.  In their first year under Dan Campbell in 2021, the Lions were not very good, but their strong drafts and free agency periods have allowed them to sneak back into a bit if relevance at 5-7.

They look poised to compete for a playoff spot next year.  Another team going through a full rebuilding process is the Chicago Bears, who are 3-10 and need quite a bit of roster talent.  However, they’ve seen Justin Fields take a noticeable step forward in year two, and General Manager Ryan Poles will add offensive line talent and pass catchers to try and further Fields’ development.

The Bears appear to be a team on an upward trend.  Should this be a route that the Patriots try at the end of the season?

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