If the Patriots want to avoid another dud of a season like last year's 4-13 campaign—and the dismal 4-13 the year before that—they've got to do some offseason shopping. It doesn't matter if it's via trade, the draft, or free agency. Robert Kraft and the company's days of shopping in the bargain bin at Walmart have to be over.
With over $120 million in salary cap space to play with this year, this is the year for the Patriots to go on a spending spree. While New England should certainly tread cautiously, Mike Vrabel and the Krafts need to show Drake Maye that they're serious about building a quality roster around him. They can't afford to send a wrong message to their quarterback.
The Patriots need production, especially offensively, given the current track-meet offense stature of the league. Whether it's going after guys who once called Foxboro home or recruiting some new big names, New England can accelerate its rebuild with a booming offseason.
3 bold Patriots offseason predictions
1. Tee Higgins will be signed in free agency
Higgins' future in Cincinnati grew murkier and darker as the 2024 season went along, and with the Bengals needing to pay many of their young stars, Higgins could very well be the odd man out.
The Patriots will need to overspend a bit to convince Higgins to come to a last-place team with a second-year quarterback, but that's OK. Maye sorely needs a dynamic playmaker on the outside, and Higgins is the best option available.
New England will be aggressive here and find a way to get a deal done. Higgins' decision will set the table for the rest of the offseason and the wide receiver market. He'll command at least $17-20 million per year, but the Patriots will be the aggressors in their pursuit of Higgins.
2. The Patriots will add to their running back room
Rhamondre Stevenson is a pretty good lead back for New England's running back room, but his fumbling issues cropped up yet again in 2024, so look for the Patriots to upgrade this position, whether it's via the draft or even a trade.
The draft appears to be the logical route here. Consider Ohio State's Trayvon Henderson, whose draft stock improved after his performance leading the Buckeyes to a national championship.
Wide receiver, the offensive line, and an edge rusher are undoubtedly the areas where the Patriots need to upgrade the most, but your running back room can't have enough depth in today's NFL. Don't be surprised if the Patriots look Henderson's way if he's not gone in the first round.
3. The Patriots will trade for a superstar veteran
New England has the draft flexibility to make a splash in the trade market, perhaps even for someone like Cooper Kupp. Myles Garrett has also requested a trade, but the quarterback-needy Browns are likely going to be looking for a day one pick, so he's not worth sacrificing the No. 4 pick for.
Kupp is the lead choice for a move like this, given the Patriots' need for changes to the wide receiver group. But if it's not him, the Patriots could take an even bigger swing and go for Deebo Samuel. The 49ers have multiple guys due for new contracts the next two offseasons, Samuel included, and if the Patriots are willing to take on his salary, Eliot Wolf should give John Lynch a call.