New England Patriots
“It’s solely beneficial if we perceive what it takes and what we’re gonna have to do to enhance.”
SAN FRANCISCO — Regardless of the crushing result that performed out on Sunday evening at Levi’s Stadium, a disheartened Patriots roster that also struck an optimistic tone within the wake of a lopsided loss in Tremendous Bowl LX to Seattle.
“It’s our first yr collectively. No person thought we’d be right here. We put the league on discover,” Carlton Davis stated. “Clearly we didn’t get the job performed and [expletive] stings. [Expletive] is rarely going to not sting. However we’ve obtained a vivid future, man.
“We’ve obtained lots of nice younger gamers. Coming on this [expletive] and taking the league by storm. Having a brand new teaching employees, lots of new free brokers. One thing that’s actually remarkable. So [expletive] hurts, however I’ve obtained a sense we’ll be again.”
Davis is true, in some respects.
Regardless of being outclassed by Seattle for a majority of Sunday’s sport, New England has a franchise QB in Drake Maye, a reigning Coach of the Year in Mike Vrabel, a tradition that ought to appeal to offseason expertise, and a number of other key cogs in place on protection.
However, New England can’t merely run it again subsequent season and financial institution on Maye taking one other step ahead — not after the Patriots’ offense unraveled within the postseason.
“It’s solely beneficial if we perceive what it takes and what we’re gonna have to do to enhance,” Vrabel stated of the teachings discovered from Sunday’s loss. “If we don’t try this, then it wouldn’t have been very beneficial.
““We had a extremely, actually good yr, and one which I’m happy with. However this sport, I don’t suppose, is a mirrored image of our yr. We misplaced, and we had been beat, out-coached and outplayed and provides them credit score.”
Because the Patriots look to construct off what was nonetheless a profitable 2025 season, right here’s a have a look at what New England should do to improve a roster hampered by a number of obvious deficiencies.
Shore up the offensive line
Anybody watching Tremendous Bowl LX witnessed a beatdown doled out by the Seahawks — with Seattle’s stout protection finishing caving in New England’s offensive line.
In complete, Maye was sacked six instances and was hit on one other 11 events; all three of his turnovers had been dedicated whereas below stress.
Vrabel, Eliot Wolf, and Ryan Cowden must confront some onerous truths transferring ahead.
Is Will Campbell — who allowed a whopping 14 pressures on Sunday — actually a strong (albeit flawed) left deal with, or ought to he transfer into the inside to be a possible All-Professional left guard?
Is Jared Wilson higher served taking part in at heart? The place does that go away Garrett Bradbury?
Is Morgan Moses — who will flip 35 years previous in March — actually be a dependable possibility at proper deal with as soon as once more in 2026?
It wouldn’t be a shock if the Patriots use their first-round choose within the upcoming NFL Draft (thirty first general) so as to add one other offensive deal with, particularly a high-upside goal like Kadyn Proctor or Monroe Freeling.
After all, franchise left tackles don’t develop on timber — neither is it a on condition that these prospects will probably be even be obtainable on the finish of the primary spherical.
New England may be well-served to focus on a deal with on the finish of the primary spherical simply to develop behind Moses, as a minimum. However, the Patriots might need to both decide to growing Campbell or discover different artistic methods (buying and selling up within the draft, buying and selling for a veteran) to discover a franchise left deal with.
Add a weapon for Drake Maye
New England’s offense was explosive and environment friendly with Maye on the helm through the common season, however the playoffs was a distinct story.
Whereas offensive-line woes loom giant, the case could be made that Maye additionally wants one other go-to goal or two transferring ahead.
New England has some good weapons in place with gamers like Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Hunter Henry, and Kayshon Boutte.
However, Diggs is 32 years previous. Henry is 31. Hollins will flip 33 in September.
Be it within the draft, free company, or by way of commerce, New England may make life a bit simpler for Maye transferring ahead by giving him one other dynamic goal to work with.
Disgruntled Eagles wideout A.J. Brown has been linked to Mike Vrabel for years after he performed for him in Tennessee, whereas Alec Pierce is ready to receives a commission on the free agent market as one of many high deep-threat targets within the league (21.3 yards per reception).
Construct depth by way of the draft
New England will once more have a number of draft picks to make the most of within the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
Right here’s a have a look at the Patriots’ full assortment of draft picks this yr:
- Spherical 1, Choose 31
- Spherical 2, Choose 63
- Spherical 3, Choose 95
- Spherical 4
- Spherical 4 (from CHI and KC)
- Spherical 5
- Spherical 6
- Spherical 6 (by way of KC)
- Spherical 6 (by way of PIT)
- Spherical 6 (by way of SF)
- Spherical 7
New England may use these Day 1-2 picks to deal with apparent wants like offensive deal with, vast receiver, tight finish, and edge rusher.
However, the Patriots must also be seeking to construct their depth throughout the roster — particularly in terms of including at linebacker and within the secondary. Very like how New England turned a fourth-round choose right into a stud rookie like Craig Woodson, Wolf wants to search out extra lineup regulars by way of his draft board.
Bolster the cross rush
New England’s blitz-heavy protection largely wreaked havoc towards opposing quarterbacks through the playoffs, posting 12 complete sacks and recording eight turnovers over its first three playoff video games.
However, the Patriots’ luck ran out in Tremendous Bowl LX, as Sam Darnold was solely sacked as soon as all sport en path to a Seattle victory. New England’s pass-rush through the common season additionally wasn’t all that spectacular, as solely six groups posted fewer sacks through the common season than the Patriots (35.0).
If New England desires one other game-changer on protection, don’t be shocked if they’re one of many possible entrants in the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes, whereas high-priced free brokers like Trey Hendrickson, Odafe Oweh, and Jaelan Phillips may be targets.
Hand Christian Gonzalez a brand new contract
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is ready to receives a commission this offseason.
The star defensive again was one in all New England’s high gamers throughout their run to the Tremendous Bowl.
Getting into Sunday, Gonzalez allowed simply 11 catches on 28 targets throughout three playoff video games, per Next Gen Stats. That 39.3 p.c completion proportion allowed was the bottom by any participant to face 25+ targets in a postseason since no less than 2018.
He was cash once more on Sunday towards Seattle, breaking apart three passes and sure taking 10-plus factors off the board with a pair of swats whereas locking up Rashid Shaheed and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
As long as Gonzalez is patrolling New England’s secondary, the Patriots could have an elite protection nook, one who can routinely shut down among the high playmakers within the NFL.
The 23-year-old nook is lastly free to signal a contract extension this spring, and New England ought to open up the checkbook to lock Gonzalez into place for the following few years.
Decide which different free brokers must be retained
The Patriots might need some cash to spend this offseason, even after signing Gonzalez to a brand new deal.
New England may additionally convert several guaranteed contracts like Milton Williams or Carlton Davis’ into signing bonuses, which may additionally liberate tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in cap area.
Which means New England ought to nonetheless have some capital readily available to signal a few of their pending free brokers, together with Ok’Lavon Chaisson, Khyiris Tonga, and Jaylinn Hawkins.
Hawkins could be a smart funding as a 1-2 punch on the security place with Woodson, however it stays to be seen if Chaisson would possibly worth himself out of New England’s vary after placing collectively a breakout season.
The Patriots might want to weigh the professionals and cons of bringing again many of the identical roster from 2025, whereas additionally sustaining sufficient cap area for future hefty contracts like Maye’s.
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