When retooling a football team, tough decisions always have to be made. And there's no doubt the Patriots will be facing some tough ones over the course of this offseason. The roster, especially the offense, needs reconstructing.
A case in point? Chuck Knoll when he first arrived in Pittsburgh in 1969. In one of his first meetings, he told the players that most of them would likely be gone in the coming years. Five guys made it from that first training camp to Super Bowl IX in 1974, the Steelers' first championship.
Will Mike Vrabel have to make such a mass exodus? Probably not. But some guys from the 2024 Patriots likely won't be sticking around long.
3 tough decisions the Patriots could make this offseason
1. Trading QB Joe Milton III
This would be a very risky move, as Milton showed in Week 18 that he has the capability to be a dependable backup for Drake Maye. But the Patriots have their quarterback for years to come and the flexibility to sign a backup on the cheap, and there are some quarterback-hungry teams across the league who could very well call Eliot Wolf to at least discuss a trade for Milton.
If the Patriots are going to make such a move, they should undoubtedly ask for at least a day-two draft pick in return, with the need to stockpile assets to reload the team. The quarterback class in the upcoming draft isn't as talented as the Class of 2024, so a deal for Milton wouldn't be all that surprising.
2. Trading WR Kendrick Bourne
The Patriots' wide receiver room is due for reconstruction and with top pass-catchers like Deebo Samuel and Cooper Kupp being put on the trade block, New England will likely be looking to move a veteran this offseason.
The veteran presence of Bourne is important, but he could be one of the "odd men out," especially if the Patriots back up the brinks truck for a top wideout like Tee Higgins.
Something that makes sense could be sending Bourne to San Francisco, where he started his career, in a swap for Samuel, along with draft picks. Don't be surprised if the Patriots ship Bourne out via trade this offseason or even flat-out release him, which could save the team nearly $5 million in salary cap space. Bourne is signed through 2026 and has appeared to have lost a step since tearing his ACL in 2023.
3. Trading a high draft pick for a veteran
The Patriots should not trade the No. 4 overall pick unless it's to move back into the first round and stockpile more picks, especially if game-changers like Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter are sitting there for Vrabel and Wolf.
But if the Patriots truly want to swing and go for a home run, they could trade a high-round pick (second-rounder) for veterans such as Kupp or even Myles Garrett or Micah Parsons.
Parsons is growing frustrated in Dallas and has been linked in trade rumors with New England. While it would cost a pretty penny to pry Parsons from the Cowboys, don't be shocked if someone like him is acquired via trade.
The offseason always comes with shocking decisions, and don't be surprised to see the Patriots make a few of them between now and training camp.