Instead of making splashy moves to acquire big-name free agents, the Patriots instead used the beginning portion of the new league year to re-sign their own core players and fill in obvious gaps on their roster.
With the first week of free agency in the rearview, let’s take a closer look at the Patriots’ depth chart to see where needs still exist with the draft still over a month away.
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett, Bailey Zappe, Nathan Rourke
The obvious need here is for a rookie quarterback — preferably one selected No. 3 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Depending on how that player performs in training camp and the preseason, he could overtake the starting spot from Brissett.
Running back
Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Kevin Harris, JaMycal Hasty, Ke’Shawn Vaughn
The Patriots could head into the 2024 season with this group. Ideally, however, they’d add another early-down back with a veteran free-agent signing or late in the draft to compete with Harris. Vaughn, a Buccaneers 2020 third-round pick, will be an interesting player to watch in training camp if he lasts that long on the roster.
Wide receiver
Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Reagor, Kayshon Boutte, T.J. Luther, Kawaan Baker
The Patriots currently lack a starting-caliber “X” receiver. If the season started today, either Reagor or Boutte would need to fill that role, or the Patriots would need to exist in tight formations. The top five wide receivers on the depth chart are either “Z” or slot receivers. Osborn, the Patriots’ most recent wide receiver signing, fits into the same “Z”/slot roles as Bourne, Douglas, Smith-Schuster and Thornton. He doesn’t necessarily make the Patriots better, just deeper. The team does feel like they got a bargain on Osborn after a down year and that he was cheaper than his 2021-22 numbers suggest.
If the Patriots can’t sign a player like Mike Williams to play “X,” then they’ll need to make a trade or draft a wide receiver high next month.
Tight end
Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, La’Michael Pettway
The Patriots should look to add more depth during the late stages of free agency or in the later rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. Henry and Hooper are a nice start, however.
Offensive line
LT Chukwuma Okorafor, LG Cole Strange, C David Andrews, RG Sidy Sow, RT Mike Onwenu, G Nick Leverett, G Atonio Mafi, C Jake Andrews, OT Vederian Lowe, OT Conor McDermott, OT Calvin Anderson, G Michael Jordan, OT Andrew Stueber, OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
This unit still lacks an ideal fit at left tackle. The options are dwindling in free agency, so the Patriots might need to head into the 2024 NFL Draft with needs at quarterback, wide receiver and left tackle, which isn’t ideal. If this is the group the Patriots took into training camp, it would essentially be an open competition at left tackle between Okorafor, Lowe, McDermott, Anderson, Stueber and Wheatley.
Defensive line
Christian Barmore, Davon Godchaux, Daniel Ekuale, Armon Watts, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Sam Roberts, Trysten Hill
This is one group the Patriots could take into the 2024 season without a problem. They could use one more upside addition, but it’s not necessary.
Edge defender
Matthew Judon, Deatrich Wise, Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche, Keion White, William Bradley-King
After bringing back Jennings and Uche, the Patriots’ next step is to rework Judon’s contract since he’s set to earn just $7.5 million in cash this season. The hope here is that White takes a major step forward in his second season.
Linebacker
Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Sione Takitaki, Raekwon McMillan, Christian Elliss, Joe Giles-Harris
The Patriots have traditionally liked to play big nickel and dime sets with three safeties on the field. A player like safety Marte Mapu could be included in this group for that reason. Takitaki was a nice signing to replace Mack Wilson as linebacker depth. McMillan has only been healthy for one of the three seasons he’s been with the Patriots. Elliss will compete for a role via special teams.
Cornerback
Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Marco Wilson, Shaun Wade, Isaiah Bolden, Azizi Hearn
Perhaps the Patriots’ biggest defensive need is another taller cornerback to play opposite Gonzalez. L’Jarius Sneed is still available via trade, and Stephon Gilmore has yet to sign as a free agent. Austin and Bolden, both rookies in 2023, have potential.
Safety
Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Marte Mapu, Brenden Schooler, Joshuah Bledsoe
Dugger has yet to sign his transition tag, but we’ll still include him in this group. If for some reason the Patriots lose Dugger, then safety becomes a giant need. The Patriots ideally would find one more safety to add to this group in front of or behind Mapu since they like playing so many safety-heavy defensive sets.
Specialists
K Chad Ryland, P Bryce Baringer, LS Joe Cardona
It would make sense to add competition for Ryland in free agency, the draft or undrafted free agency since he struggled so much in his 2023 rookie season.