5 under-the-radar free-agent targets for Patriots this offseason

Noah Fant

Hunter Henry may have just signed a 3-year contract to remain in New England, but he is still the only tight end on the roster for the 2024 season. Although they will likely select another in the draft this year, he will need another immediate starter to split snaps with, much like he did last year with Pharaoh Brown and Mike Gesicki.

A guy like Noah Fant would be an excellent player to consider taking on that role.

His last two seasons with the Seahawks weren't that memorable, likely due to the focus on players like Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, and Kenneth Walker III. But Fant still performed pretty well despite the lack of significant inclusion in the game-day plans, recording 82 receptions for 900 yards and four touchdowns since 2022.

His dramatic increase and improvement as a pass blocker stood out the most during his time with the Seahawks. Fant was the opposite of impressive in that area before last season, but because he was utilized more on the line of scrimmage, he earned the highest PFF ranking for blocking in his career.

His usage during his first three years in the league with the Broncos was much higher than in Seattle, proving he can be a viable weapon when given the opportunity. Because he appears to be more well-rounded at the position than some who have been with the team previously, his fit with Henry makes adding him to the roster more desirable.

Tyler Boyd

With most of the most desirable free-agent receivers now off the board, the Patriots still need to prioritize the position in free agency to improve their offense. One of the more intriguing candidates is Tyler Boyd, who became the outcast in Cincinnati due to the significant emphasis on Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Despite that, Boyd has a proven track record that shows he can be a great addition to a developing offense. He recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2019 and has averaged 774 yards every year since.

They may not be the flashiest numbers, but that's far more than almost any receiver the Patriots have had over the last few seasons.

Because he is more than capable of playing like a WR1 since he was that for the Bengals during his most impressive seasons, he would be an immediate upgrade to what the Patriots have had and can carry the load of more than just a backup receiver.