The height of free agency is over, and most teams probably feel satisfied with where their rosters stand after the NFL Draft. However, the Patriots still have a few holes they could easily address by bringing in some readily available talent.
Although they managed to upgrade the most crucial parts of the team through the draft, specifically on offense, a few positions remain vulnerable. The left side of the offensive line is at the top of the list, along with a few spots on the defense, which Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf only dealt with by adding a defensive back in the draft.
Fortunately, New England still holds around $50 million in cap space for the 2024 season, leaving plenty of money to sign their draft class and add more depth to the roster.
There are at least 11 players they should consider signing, as they remain free agents and could likely be brought in on cheaper contracts but be a tremendous help for the season ahead.
Free agents Patriots need to circle back to after NFL Draft
CB Stephon Gilmore
By far, the most desirable free agent that Patriots fans want to see sign with the team ahead of the season is cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
He is one of the few players over the years that they have collectively decided was one that never should've left the team, so now that he's available to return, it seems more than fitting for it to happen now.
Other than Gilmore still playing like a top corner making him a good fit, the Patriots lost most of their depth at the position with the departures of Myles Bryant, J.C. Jackson and Jalen Mills, creating a perfect opportunity for the former Defensive Player of the Year to return.
He would be a solid addition to a cornerback room led by Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones. Having the ability to rotate Gilmore into the mix could give the Patriots one of the best secondaries in the NFL, and who wouldn't want to see that?
Because he remains unsigned this late in free agency despite the rumors that the Cowboys wanted to have him return for next season, it would be silly for Mayo and Wolf not to pursue him. On top of that, Gilmore made it clear he wanted to return to Foxboro to end his career, so a deal should be happening already, right?
S Justin Simmons
It's hard to believe that a rising star like Justin Simmons remains a free agent nearly two months after he was officially made available, but the 30 year old safety remains unsigned for the 2024 season. He should be near the top of the list of players the Patriots are interested in simply due to how talented he is at the position.
Simmons has earned the reputation of being a ballhawk and has set records over the last few years because of it. He has become an interception magnet when playing against Patrick Mahomes, snagging five takeaways from the quarterback, the most by any player in the league.
Adding a player of his caliber to an already dominant safety group led by Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers would make the Patriots' secondary one of the best in the NFL, boosting their already impressive defense over the top.
He would bring more speed and natural instincts to the field and be a tremendous help in creating opportunities for the offense because of his ability to create turnovers. Simmons certainly wouldn't be cheap, but the Patriots have the money now and in the future to afford to bring him in.
DE Yannick Ngakoue
With the pass rush still running through Matthew Judon and him alone, signing a guy like Yannick Ngakoue makes a lot of sense. Joshua Uche and Keion White may step up to the plate to become their next go-to guys on defense, but it's not a guarantee that either will accomplish that.
So bringing in Ngakoue would be an instant boost and near guarantee of added production from the defensive line.
The journeyman defensive end was a name that many Patriots fans wanted to see signed during the spending spree of the 2021 offseason, but Ngakoue signed with the Raiders instead and went on to have the best season of his career since 2018.
Smith has accomplished a lot over the last three seasons for three teams, proving he can easily adapt to a new scheme and playbook. During that time, he recorded 79 combined tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, 46 quarterback hits, 23.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 45 games.
Now that he's available again and the New England defense could use a player of his caliber, it's time to make the move now.
LT Donovan Smith
One of the most concerning parts of the Patriots' offensive roster after the draft is the absence of what most believe is a true left tackle. Instead of selecting one of the top prospects in this year's class, Mayo and Wolf took a chance with Caedan Wallace, who has experience as a right guard and right tackle.
The hope is he can transition to the left side, which the staff believe he is more than equipped to do hence the selection. But regardless of what they think could work, it's a risky move and we won't know how well Wallace will fare until he's in a game.
Because of that, it would make sense to add a trusted left tackle to the roster. Although they intend to use Chukwuma Okorafor there, there seems to be enough reason to add another experienced player to the lineup. So why not Donovan Smith?
He is a nine-year veteran who spent eight seasons with the Bucs before winning a Super Bowl with the Chiefs last season. The 30-year-old spent the year protecting Patrick Mahomes on 748 offensive snaps, allowing just two sacks and seven hurries in 12 games.
Smith might not fit the mold of "draft and develop," as Wolf prefers, but with an entirely new offense in the works that could be led by a rookie quarterback at some point during the season, adding a player who has protected two of the best quarterbacks in league history to win two Super Bowls feels like a no-brainer.
WR Michael Thomas
One of the more risky signings on this list would be bringing in Michael Thomas, who played the most games last season since 2019 due to several season-ending injuries. The once highly touted receiver was well on his way to being the best in the league, only to have it completely derailed by catching the injury bug and spending more time on the sidelines than on the field.
Although he only played in ten games for the Saints in 2023, he still managed to record 39 receptions for 448 yards and a touchdown working with Derek Carr, who is not exactly a great quarterback.
Because of what he was able to accomplish despite the unfavorable circumstances, Thomas is an interesting player to consider for the Patriots lineup.
We've seen what he is capable of doing when he's 100% healthy, like leading the league in receptions (149) and receiving yards (1,725) in 2019. If given the chance, he could revert to the player he once was. We won't know that until he takes the field, but it could make the risk worth it in the long run.
FS Quandre Diggs
It's hard to dismiss the idea of signing a three-time Pro Bowl safety who has not missed a single game in four seasons and is as consistent as they come. That's what makes Quandre Diggs' availability even more puzzling, but he likely fell victim to the influx of safeties in free agency this year and overlooked because of it.
One of Diggs' best attributes that makes him fit the mold of a Patriot player is his versatility. Since joining the league in 2015, he's played multiple positions in the secondary and succeeded at them all.
He has stuck to being a free safety since being traded to the Seahawks in 2019 and has put together some of the best seasons of his career in the four years since.
Since arriving in Seattle, he's recorded 324 combined tackles, three tackles for a loss, 18 interceptions returned for 315 yards and a touchdown. On top of that, he adds 32 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, essentially checking off every box imaginable in just 72 regular season games.
At this point, despite his talent, the Patriots could probably sign Diggs to a reasonable contract, even if just for one season. He's more than worthy of testing out for a year, especially since they're already good at the position.
So why not put them over the top by bringing him in?
CB J.C. Jackson
The unexpected reunion between the Patriots and J.C. Jackson last season was one that fans initially embraced, as the cornerback was another player that felt like he shouldn't have ever left the team in free agency.
He had put together an impressive resume during his first stint in New England, which led to him receiving a massive contract from the Chargers. However, he dealt with injuries and struggled to integrate into the defense upon arriving out west. This inevitably led to LA trading him to the Patriots, and it seemed like both Jackson and the Chargers were happy about the split.
Jackson's return to Foxboro didn't start or end so greatly, though. There were issues behind the scenes that forced Bill Belichick to sideline him, and when he was on the field, he wasn't the same player he had once been. Everything coupled together made for a challenging year for the young cornerback, who took a personal leave of absence to end the 2023 season.
Although the new regime cut him early this offseason, Jerod Mayo left the door open to bring Jackson back. It seemed like the main reason for his release was his contract and now that they're clear of it, he could easily return.
Because he remains unsigned and had a tough 2023, re-signing Jackson feels like a low-risk, potentially high-reward situation. If he can get back to the player he was during his first tenure with the team, then they'd be golden.
DE Emmanuel Ogbah
Keeping on track to improve the pass rush, the Patriots should look at Emmanuel Ogbah, whose versatility on the defensive line and his proven production make him a top available option to sign ahead of the 2024 season.
During his eight-year career in the NFL, Ogbah has lined up all over the defense. He has primarily played as a defensive end on both the right and left side, but he played nose tackle for the Dolphins in 2023 and had a more productive season than some in his past at his natural position.
He recorded 20 combined tackles, three tackles for a loss, nine quarterback hits, an interception, two passes defended, a forced fumble, and 5.5 sacks through 15 games. There's barely anything more he could have done to maximize his output on the year.
Pairing him with Matthew Judon could make for a lethal pairing. Ogbah could even sub in for Davon Godchaux if needed, making him even more valuable on the roster.
He's remained a consistent part of any defense he was working with, and his versatility, not only on defense but also on special teams, makes him an even more enticing option to sign ahead of training camp this summer.
LB/DE Carl Lawson
With the defense in mind, 28-year-old linebacker/defensive end Carl Lawson would be a solid signing to consider ahead of the 2024 season.
Although his career with the Jets was less than impressive, primarily due to being kept off the field in 2023 because of injury concerns, he's been a consistent contributor throughout his career. He spent his first four years with the Bengals, recording 81 combined tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 83 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and 20 sacks.
Lawson put together a great 2022 season, most impressively with seven sacks and 24 quarterback hits, but because the Jets were overly cautious about previous injuries, he wasn't able to build upon that last year.
If there isn't more to the injury concerns, Lawson could be a great rotational piece on the Patriots' defense and another mentor to the young pass rushers.
T Prince Tega Wanogho
If the Patriots want to add even more depth to the offensive line, there is literal royalty waiting to be signed in Prince Tega Wanogho.
The Nigerian-born Prince has been a swing tackle in the NFL since 2020, spending the last three seasons with the Chiefs. He's dealt with some hardships and injuries preventing him from getting onto the field, but played the entire 2022 season to win his first Super Bowl.
Signing Wanogho would add depth to a vulnerable spot on the team, but his versatility on the offensive line creates more opportunities for him to be utilized.
The Patriots have dealt with inconsistency from their linemen in recent years and several injuries, so having someone like Wanogho on the roster would ease any of those concerns rearing again this season.
LT Charles Leno
Sticking with the offensive line, another possible option to bulk up the left side would be to sign ten-year veteran Charles Leno Jr. The longtime Chicago Bear spent the last three seasons with the Commanders, starting as a left tackle since his second season in 2015.
Over the years, Leno has been a solid protector of several quarterbacks despite the rotating door of players coming onto the field. His experience has a starter and his knowledge of the different ways quarterbacks play would inevitably benefit the Patriots no matter if Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye is under center.
Signing Leno would add good depth to the roster, but also a player who can be a good starter if called upon. He proved that again last season by allowing just three sacks and five quarterback hits through 880 offensive snaps.