After the disastrous 2023 season for the Patriots, it was good to know they were heading into free agency with one of the highest cap space amounts in the entire league. The roster sorely needed to be upgraded, especially on offense, but there wasn't much optimism it would happen under the tutelage of Bill Belichick.
The longtime head coach and general manager was known for not dishing out big contracts or lots of money to any player, not even Tom Brady, so despite New England's plethora of cap to use, it seemed like a distant dream for it to be used in the way many hoped.
That feeling changed when Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf were hired to replace Belichick. They quickly promised to prioritize improving the roster by "burning some cash" in free agency.
Unfortunately, the signings made were limited and didn't live up to the hype despite many being deemed solid additions. Because of that, it's easy to envision how it all could have been done differently had it gone in their favor.
3 free agent do-overs for Patriots from 2024
WR Calvin Ridley
Likely the most obvious do-over of them all this offseason would be enticing Calvin Ridley to sign with the team instead of the Titans. His decision reportedly came down to the Patriots and the team he eventually signed with. However, a family connection and Tennessee's lack of state taxes were too good to pass up for the Ridleys.
The silver lining to the situation was Eliot Wolf's impressive offer to the receiver, which was not something Belichick would likely had done. Just one million dollars separated the two teams, but New England couldn't match the other factors that swayed the receiver to stay in the AFC South.
In a do-over situation, it would be great to see Ridley suit up with the Patriots in 2024. He would be an instant WR1, which the Patriots don't currently have, and could have been the game-changing addition to the offense to turn the roster around.
The receiving corps has been and continues to be the most questionable part of the team, even with the arrivals of Javon Baker and Ja'Lynn Polk in the draft and K.J. Osborn in free agency. None are expected to be the leading receiver that the team needs, so Ridley being in the lineup would have made a significant difference.
DT Christian Wilkins
Although the defense has been the better side of the team for many years now, adding a guy like Christian Wilkins would have really put the unit over the top.
Matthew Judon has been the sole pass rusher since signing with the team in 2021. Through three seasons, he has recorded 32 sacks, which has already set all-time Patriots records for the linebacker. But his absence after suffering a season-ending injury last year made it clear he needs help to get the job done.
Signing a guy like Wilkins, who has been a menace for the Patriots since he was drafted by the Dolphins in 2019, would've been a huge win and may have been their best signing since Judon. He has been as consistent as they come over the last five years and recorded the most sacks of his career in a single season in 2023 with nine.
The image of a defensive line led by Judon and Wilkins might be too good to be true, and it will continue to be that way since the former Dolphin signed a massive contract with the Raiders this offseason.
That might have been a reason for Mayo and Wolf to look the other way when evaluating the best fits for the team in free agency, but they had the cap space to afford it this year and next, so it shouldn't have been an issue.
The good thing is that Wilkins is now out of the division, so he won't be getting to Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye anytime soon. But it would have been nice if he had been playing alongside Judon instead.
LT Tyron Smith
Among the many positions the Patriots needed to address this offseason on the offense was the offensive line, mainly left tackle. It has been one of the more problematic parts of the unit over the last several years, despite Trent Brown's presence.
The now Cincinnati Bengal had been a solid player in his second tenure in New England, even playing a stretch of last season as the best lineman on the team. But his consistency and motivation issues reared its ugly head, causing him to seemingly check out before the end of the year on top of dealing with a few nagging injuries.
The thought was his departure would prompt Mayo and Wolf to prioritize finding his replacement in free agency, yet that's not exactly what they did. They signed Chukwuma Okorafor to play the position but he's not been named the day one starter just yet.
They then drafted a few linemen in the draft, which also didn't sit right with fans and reporters, as they hope to have Caedan Wallace switch from right to left tackle.
Because of that, signing a guy like Tyron Smith, a proven veteran who would have set the left side of the offensive line better than almost anyone, would have been the wisest decision.
His age isn't necessarily favorable since he's 33, but his presence would have allowed the younger players more time to learn and develop before being thrown into the lineup as the only ones on the roster capable of performing the position. On top of that, Smith's performance has been even better than Brown's over the years, making Brissett and Maye's job much easier this fall.
The longtime Cowboy has allowed just 29 sacks during his 13-year career, compared to Brown, who allowed 12 over the last three years. Smith would have been the caliber of protection the Patriots were hoping for and then some. Instead, Aaron Rodgers will benefit from his production next year.