Free agents the Patriots need to re-sign for 2023 season

Pending free agents the Patriots need to re-sign for 2023

Matthew Slater and Devin McCourty

The biggest “what if’s?” this offseason will be whether or not tenured Patriots’ veterans Matthew Slater and Devin McCourty will return or retire. Both have reportedly contemplated hanging it up for a couple of years now, with Slater just ending his 15th season and McCourty finishing his 13th.

If Slater decides he’d like to play for one more season, there’s no reason that Belichick would let him walk. Of course, it isn’t easy to imagine that he would return for another season for anyone but the Patriots, so it’s fair to assume that won’t happen.

As a key piece of an almost always efficient special teams, Slater’s presence on and off the field couldn’t be needed more as the unit goes through a massive transition. There have been some rising stars found this past year, Brenden Schooler and Marcus Jones, but Slater’s leadership and mentorship could be missing if he does indeed retire.

If McCourty decides he will return for one more year, he could continue playing some of his best football again. The 2022 season was one of his most productive, playing in all 17 games totaling 71 tackles, eight pass breakups, four interceptions returned for 66 yards, and one fumble recovery.

Both players are yet to address their football futures, but with the offseason just beginning for the Patriots, there’s still plenty of time before the official start of free agency before they reveal their plans.