The importance of this offseason for the Patriots cannot be stressed enough. Coming off a second consecutive 4-13 season, the team is armed with the most salary cap space in the NFL, an experienced head coach, and a franchise quarterback in the making.
Mike Vrabel and company can't make mistakes. No swings and misses. There has to be a purpose behind each signing.
Last offseason was very underwhelming, but the fact the Patriots didn't have a quarterback was a factor. Now they do, and Drake Maye was reportedly selling New England to free agents at the Pro Bowl.
A few players come to mind as potential targets for the Patriots, who would be dream signings for the team.
3 prospective dream free-agent targets for Patriots
1. WR Tee Higgins
It's quite obvious that the Cincinnati wide receiver is the Patriots' top free-agent target. Higgins is a bonafide superstar who would be the No. 1 wide receiver on about 80 percent of NFL teams. That includes the Patriots, who lack talent at that position.
While Higgins won't be cheap, he'll be an immediate upgrade. He'll be the deep threat that Maye needs to not only stretch the field but also open things up inside for guys like DeMario Douglas. The Bengals also have to pay Trey Hendrickson, so don't bank on Higgins getting franchise-tagged.
2. WR DeAndre Hopkins
While Hopkins wouldn't be as flashy a signing as Higgins would be, he has plenty of juice left in his jar and played for Vrabel in Tennessee. Hopkins is averaging 10.9 yards per catch in Kansas City this season, and like Higgins, Hopkins would provide an instant upgrade for a wide receiver room that desperately needs it.
Hopkins doesn't have the size that Higgins does, but he still has the ability to stretch the field. That alone would draw attention from opposing defensive backs and open things up for the slot receivers. He does play big for his size, however, and has shown the ability to make tough catches in traffic throughout his career.
The big question is Hopkins' age and his potential desire to sign with a team ready to compete for a championship. Kansas City's salary cap purgatory likely will prevent the Chiefs from bringing Hopkins back, but the fact that the Patriots may still be a year or two away may turn Hopkins off to New England.
3. T Ronnie Stanley
If the Patriots don't upgrade the offensive line via the draft, Stanley appears to be the best tackle available in free agency. His pass-blocking grade was among the highest in the NFL this season, and he has bounced back well from an ankle injury suffered a few seasons ago.
Baltimore, which ranks near the bottom of the league in salary cap space, likely won't be able to afford to give Stanley a long-term deal. Should the Patriots choose to give him a call, that would provide the team way more draft flexibility with the fourth pick, whether going with Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter or trading back into the first round for more assets.
Stanley is a franchise left tackle, and when you look at the numbers the Ravens' offense put up, Stanley is a big reason why. He would also be a great mentor to the young guys up front.