Assessing the offseason priorities, options for the Patriots
Instead of game-planning for a playoff game, New England's staff is game-planning an approach for the offseason.
Per Spotrac, New England will enter the offseason the sixth-most salary cap space in the NFL with a projected $45 million. One of New England's top priorities should be transforming a mediocre receiving corps.
Jakobi Meyers, New England's top receiver in 2022 with 804 yards and six touchdowns, will hit the open market. Although Bill Belichick will focus a large part of the cap to bringing in external talent, he could — and should — re-sign Meyers.
In a recent interview, when asked if he'd like to be back with the Patriots next season, Meyers said: "Definitely."
The draft is well-stocked with quality receivers, including Quentin Johnston (TCU), Zay Flowers (Boston College), Jordan Addison (USC), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) and Josh Downs (North Carolina).
If New England wants a veteran option, it may aim to pry Tee Higgins from the Bengals, who must plan a future for when QB Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase are off their rookie deals.
New England also must shore up offensive tackle, a key weak point in 2022. The top free-agent tackle will be Kansas City's Orlando Brown Jr., who was unable to reach an extension agreement with the Chiefs last offseason.
The Pro Bowler's asking price will be steep, probably about $23 million a year, about where the Chiefs valued him last offseason.
If the Patriots do not want to spend that kind of coin on a tackle, they can use their first-round pick on one. Peter Skoronski (Northwestern), Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State), Anton Harrison (Oklahoma) and Broderick Jones (Georgia) are players the Patriots could target with the 14th overall pick.
On the other side of the ball, the defense might be at risk of losing its top corner.
Early in the season, impending free-agent cornerback Jonathan Jones superbly filled the void in the secondary left by J.C. Jackson, who signed with the Chargers last offseason. In the second half, Jones' play slipped, but he remained one of the better players on defense.
Among the cornerbacks who will hit free agency are Jamel Dean, Cam Sutton and James Bradberry. The top cornerbacks in the draft are Cam Smith of South Carolina, Kelee Ringo of Georgia and Christian Gonzalez of Oregon.
There are plenty of holes to fill if the Pats want to get back to the postseason, and they'll need to address all of them to keep up with an ever-improving AFC East.
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