5 under-the-radar free-agent targets for Patriots this offseason
With free agency opening up next week, the Patriots will have a lot of roster holes to fill, especially before the draft. They have a lot of money to spend, nearly $100 million in cap space, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
The list of pending free agents this year was impressive, and many players sparked fans' interest as potential fits for New England to target. But many of them are already off the board, as they have either been re-signed to their teams or franchise-tagged.
That will make Jerod Mayo's job more difficult, with an offense that needs a lot of improvement to become a competitive team again. The good thing is that there are some quality players going under the radar who would be good additions for the right price and the right role.
5 under-the-radar free-agent targets for Patriots this offseason
Gus Edwards
Running back is one of the less discussed positions the Patriots will likely be looking at in free agency this year. Rhamondre Stevenson is under contract for one more season, and he still needs a complementary backfield teammate to dominate in the run game.
That was what Ezekiel Elliott was brought in to do for the 2023 season, and although he did a fine enough job, he wasn't exactly stellar enough to label him a must-re-sign candidate. Because the only other RBs on the team are unproven on game day and a stellar pending free agent class looking for new contracts, now is the time for New England to bulk up their backfield.
Someone who should be on their radar is Gus Edwards, the career-long Baltimore Raven who has been as consistent as they come in that offense and recorded the best season of his career last year, totaling 198 carries for 810 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The 28-year-old would pair well with Stevenson, who will continue as the RB1. He will also allow the quarterback to utilize him in the passing game, which will become even more critical with a rookie under center while keeping Stevenson as the primary ball carrier.
His size and speed would make him a valuable addition, and given the names who will be joining him in free agency, the Patriots could probably get him for a lower price, too.