The Patriots are in the best position possible heading into the 2025 offseason for a team needing several improvements made to their roster.
With the most cap space available to utilize in free agency, coveted draft picks that can be used for adding some of the best incoming rookie talent or as trade compensation, and a few top-name players already being put on the trade block, there are endless opportunities for the team to turn the roster around before next season.
With a new regime calling the shots this offseason, the hope is we won't see the typical Patriots offseason that we've become accustomed to. That means actually spending the cap available and making big time moves that are impactful now and for future seasons.
There is a good chance that Mike Vrabel and Co. will do just that and put together a much better offseason than the last few years, especially in 2024. The team cannot afford to continue signing mediocre talent at a cheaper price and hoping they will make the kind of impact on the team they need.
That means there are plenty of players they need to avoid in free agency, some of whom would be nightmare signings that won't do the team any good.
3 nightmare players the Patriots need to avoid signing in free agency
WR Diontae Johnson
Atop the list of needs this offseason is wide receiver, which is why the news about Tee Higgins being franchise-tagged is devastating to the Patriots' free agency plans. Instead, they'll have to turn their attention to other options that might not be as desirable but still effective, whether it be signing a different free agent or making a blockbuster trade.
If they choose the easier route by signing available players, there's no reason to consider Diontae Johnson at any point in time.
The formerly expected breakout offensive weapon has had a chaotic career since coming to the league in 2019. He was supposed to be one of the biggest names for the Steelers and had impressive performances during his five years in Pittsburgh, recording 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns.
However, once he moved onto other teams last season, he couldn't match up with his previous production. That resulted in him spending time with three times throughout the year, much of it due to a bad attitude and a performance to match.
That is far from what the Patriots need on their team right now or in the locker room, even if there is still a lot of potential in Johnson to be the type of receiver the offense could benefit from moving forward.
OLB Haason Reddick
Like the need for wide receiver help, the Patriots must also improve their defensive line and add more dominant pass rushers to the roster. That's why a guy like Penn State's Abdul Carter has become a favorite in the upcoming draft to be their pick at No. 4, as he would make the immediate impact needed to instill fear in opposing quarterbacks next season.
Typically, if they wanted to add a solid veteran to the lineup as well, a guy like Hasson Reddick would seem like a no-brainer. He has been a consistent force in the NFL since he was drafted by the Cardinals in 2017, recording 424 combined tackles, 71 for a loss, 102 quarterback hits, 20 passes defended, 17 forced fumbles, five recovered and 59 sacks.
He even didn't miss a game until last season, when he was on a holdout over a contract dispute. This makes him a reliable player who has avoided injury for nearly eight seasons. However, his behavior last year makes him a passable candidate for the Patriots.
The way Reddick conducted himself since being traded to the Jets is nothing short of discouraging and his performance on the field once he returned to the team didn't help his cause. While his production in the years before 2024 would be a massive boost for the Patriots, all that comes with rostering Reddick would not.
QB Carson Wentz
This offseason, the assumption has been that veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett will be looking for a better opportunity elsewhere in free agency, leaving the Patriots with another position to fill with a veteran backup.
Joe Milton III is an excellent filler for now, as he proved against the Bills in Week 18 last year, but there is a lot of speculation that the Patriots might decide to trade him ahead of the draft, making the importance of finding a backup for Drake Maye skyrocket.
Carson Wentz is among the options they can consider in free agency, but Vrabel and Co. should not even remotely entertain him. The former Eagles starter has seen a fall from grace since he suffered an injury the year they went to the Super Bowl against the Patriots and has now become a well-traveled backup wherever he's gone.
While his veteran experience would be a great addition to the quarterback room, it's fair to argue that there are better options for the Patriots to look into than Wentz, whether because they're younger or might be more reliable in the position.