The height of free agency may be long gone, but there are still some fascinating players who remain available, and a few rumored cut candidates who might join them in the weeks leading up to and following the upcoming draft. That puts the Patriots, with nearly $70 million remaining in cap space to spend, at the forefront for some of the more impressive names, especially those on offense.
The new regime is expected to be active during that time and may even participate in a few draft-day trades for players, something both Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf have hinted at while speaking to reporters recently. Who they might have their eye on is a mystery, at least when considering the more realistic candidates to become a New England Patriot.
That's a scenario that Jarrett Bailey of On SI explored this past week, listing a few intriguing players to keep in mind as the Patriots look to continue building their roster for the 2025 season.
The name that stood out the most was tight end Mark Andrews, who has become a staple for the Ravens since he joined the team in 2018. Typically, a player of his caliber wouldn't even be considered as a possible signing, but a disastrous playoff series last year has deemed him one of the most apparent cut candidates, making him available to the Patriots as soon as possible.
If the Ravens make Mark Andrews available, the Patriots have every reason to inquire
Heading into the draft, the Patriots are not a team that will be heavily connected to many tight ends, as their current roster is far from bad. They will have Hunter Henry leading the way and a newly re-signed Austin Hooper continuing his role as a solid backup and role player to give Drake Maye even more options to work with.
They also have Jaheim Bell to utilize in some capacity, but how that might work under the new regime is questionable. He was a seventh round draft pick in 2024 and was barely used as a rookie, creating more skepticism about his fit with the team moving forward.
If the new regime led by Vrabel isn't sold on Bell, it would make sense for them to consider adding Andrews to the roster. The four-time Pro Bowler has been one of the most productive tight ends in the league over the past seven years and would be an immediate upgrade for the Patriots if he were to join the team.
Pairing a player like Andrews with Hunter (and even Hooper) would finally give New England the dual tight ends they have yearned for since the dominating days of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, but this time they'd be just a bit older.
Despite that concern, both veterans were still impressive last season, with Andrews recording 55 receptions for 673 yards and 11 touchdowns in 17 games. Although his post-season might be a bit sketchier and memorable for all the wrong reasons, it can't be argued that he wouldn't be one of the best free agent signings in recent memory if the Patriots had been able to get him in the door.
All of this, of course, is dependent on his availability. Since the end of the season, there have been plenty of indications that the Ravens were considering moving on from their longtime player, but they have yet to act on that impulse. The chance of it becoming a reality may diminish as the weeks pass, but it isn't a scenario the Patriots should rule out entirely just yet.