The Patriots' offseason has had its fair share of drama and criticism, especially for some of the decisions Bill Belichick made in an attempt to better the team. But there has also been a lot that has deserved praise, which the head coach has received for some of the more significant moves.
Then there are a few underrated moves the team has made that have received little discussion over the months, including a critical coaching hiring that deserves to be recognized more than it has been.
Additionally, although the decisions made in free agency have not been spoken kindly of, two additions, in particular, could become quite significant during the season.
So let's get into the three underrated moves of the 2023 offseason.
Mike Gesicki signing
There was a lot of excitement surrounding the signings of free agents Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith during Belichick's spending spree in 2021. It had been years since the Patriots had the potential of two dominant tight ends on the offense, making these two signings more prominent in the fans' minds.
But we know how the story goes in regards to Smith specifically.
After completing a career year with the Titans in 2020, Smith was simply unable to either get adequately acquainted with the Patriots' playbook, which translated onto the field. Or Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia couldn't determine the best way to utilize him within their offensive plans.
Or it could be a combination of both. We'll never truly know since Smith was traded to the Falcons in March.
Even though he wasn't much of a contributor in the two seasons he spent in Foxboro, Smith's absence created an incredible void that needed to be filled immediately. Henry had performed well since he arrived, which was a plus, but his sporadic injuries made it a priority to sign another competent tight end to add to the roster.
That's where Mike Gesicki comes in.
It's unlikely he was who most hoped would become a Patriot, but he was an immediately intriguing signing that didn't get the hype as much as it should have.
Gesicki provides the ability to have two tight ends lined up on the field at one time, something we have all been begging to see on the Patriots' offense again. But he also creates the opportunity to be used as a jumbo receiver, much like what Kansas City does with Travis Kelce.
He's not known for his blocking, which will be left to Henry, but he is a viable red zone threat and a player who can stretch the field, two aspects the offense needed to improve.
And one of the most important reasons this was a good signing? This gives Mac Jones another unique weapon as they hope to have a bounce-back year.
From what has been seen from Gesicki during OTAs and minicamp, his performance has been nothing short of impressive. If he can maintain and build upon that, this underrated signing could become the best of the year.
Moving Jalen Mills to safety
It was a weird start to free agency when news dropped about the Patriots releasing Jalen Mills with no indication why.
Fortunately, the release was never processed, and Mills was re-signed in a move that was essentially a re-structure of his contract. The news was well received, but there was one noticeable change made upon his re-signing that could have incredible ramifications throughout the upcoming season.
In his first two seasons with the Patriots and for most of his NFL career, Mills was considered a cornerback. He built a resume with experience playing all over the secondary, which was a tremendous help for New England as they transitioned after losing J.C. Jackson and Stephon Gilmore.
Now that he's remaining with the team, his new contract indicated Belichick's plan to move Mills to safety. Although he hasn't played that position during his time in New England, he did play free safety for the Eagles during the 2020 season.
With Devin McCourty announcing his retirement and expecting the cornerbacks to be led by Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, and rookie Christian Gonzalez, Mills' position change makes much more sense.
McCourty's absence allows Mills to build upon what he's accomplished so far, re-establish himself, and become an even more vital player on the team. His athleticism and versatility will match well with the teammates he joins: Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, and Adrian Phillips.
And like Mike Gesicki, the newly named safety has also been impressing this spring during practices.
It may still be early in the offseason, and practices haven't been incredibly competitive, but it's never bad when a player is succeeding in drills, right?
Hiring Adrian Klemm
A lot of the offseason focus has surrounded Bill O'Brien's return, which is fair and warranted. However, the significance of hiring Adrian Klemm has been swept under the rug a bit too much.
We know the weakest side of the team has been the offense over the last few years, and several factors made it even worse in 2022.
Some of the struggles can be blamed on the players, including Mac Jones, for not performing up to their usual standards. But Bill Belichick's decision to make Matt Patricia the offensive line coach on top of taking over the duties of an offensive coordinator appeared to spread the experienced defensive mind too thin.
It doesn't take an NFL expert to know how important protection from an offensive line is on the performance of an offense in its entirety. The inconsistency from the men in charge of keeping defensemen at bay to allow a quarterback to get the football out slashes the potential for success in half, if not more.
The Patriots' 2022 offense had enough struggles; adding in unpredictable protection, a record number of before-the-snap penalties, and poor performances enough to have players benched certainly made things more difficult for everyone.
Now that Patricia is out and Klemm is in, he brings his unique experience and perspective as a former offensive tackle turned offensive line coach to New England, which will become invaluable for the offense's potential.
The even better part about it?
Klemm is a former Patriot who played under Belichick from 2000 - 2004, winning the first three Super Bowls of the dynasty era.
His familiarity with the team, the head coach, and the "Patriot way" will undoubtedly play a role in how he coaches and prepares the lineman throughout the season. It seems only fair that Belichick deserves more praise for hiring Klemm, who could become one of the better coaching hires in recent years.