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INDIANAPOLIS – The\u00a0Patriots made a stunning turnaround last season, going from a four-win team to division winner, AFC champion and Super Bowl runner-up.<\/p>\n
With\u00a0Mike Vrabel\u00a0changing the culture,\u00a0Drake Maye\u00a0having a breakout season at quarterback, and an overachieving supporting cast, the Patriots became contenders again and revived their fan base.<\/p>\n
But as we heard from both Vrabel and\u00a0Eliot Wolf\u00a0at the NFL Combine this week, there\u2019s still work to be done. They have needs to fill. They have hopes of making upgrades at several positions.<\/p>\n
Over the course of four days, MassLive spoke with a dozen coaches, agents, executives and talent evaluators to get a beat on the Patriots.<\/p>\n
What are they planning in the coming months with free agency and the draft<\/p>\n
What will they do with\u00a0Stefon Diggs, who carries a $26.5 million cap hit? What position is their top priority? Who might they try to sign in free agency?<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what MassLive has been hearing in Indy this week:<\/p>\n
What will the Patriots do about Stefon Diggs?<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll find out soon.<\/p>\n
After leading the Patriots with 85 receptions and 1,013 receiving yards, Diggs has a $26.5 million cap hit this season. He also turns 33 next fall. The team frees up $16.8 million on the cap if they release Diggs. They save up to $20.8 million if they cut Diggs with a post-June 1 designation.<\/p>\n
Multiple sources told MassLive that the Patriots are working toward a resolution and should have this situation resolved in the coming weeks. Diggs has $6 million in guarantees due on March 13.<\/p>\n
The biggest question facing the Patriots is whether they will keep Diggs on his current deal if the receiver is unwilling to restructure.<\/p>\n
Depending on who you ask, the answer varies.<\/p>\n
One source said that if Diggs wants to remain in New England, he must restructure his contract to lower the cap hit. The Patriots are willing to give him an incentive-laden deal that allows the veteran to earn back the money \u2013 if he produces.<\/p>\n
A second source predicted Diggs would be unwilling to restructure his contract after leading the Patriots in multiple receiving categories. The team has discussed how they could replace his production. That\u2019s a sticking point due to a poor receiver class in free agency and the Patriots holding the 31st pick in the first round.<\/p>\n
The Patriots are also unsure if a soon-to-be 33-year-old Diggs would attain the same production in 2026.<\/p>\n
The Patriots know they need to support Drake Maye, and downgrading his receiver corps doesn\u2019t do that. That\u2019s why a third source said the team was willing to keep Diggs on his current deal and swallow the cap hit.<\/p>\n
Essentially, multiple scenarios are up in the air, but the Patriots are working toward a resolution.<\/p>\n
Diggs also faces a looming court date. He is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on April 1 after pleading not guilty to a felony charge of strangulation and a charge of misdemeanor assault and battery.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s internal interest in trading for\u00a0A.J. Brown, and it\u2019s not just dependent on Diggs.<\/p>\n
According to our sources, there\u2019s a scenario where the Patriots could have both receivers on the roster. In the event Diggs is willing to restructure his contract, the team sees an avenue to pair him with Brown.<\/p>\n
The receiver hasn\u2019t been happy in Philadelphia and is a fan of Vrabel. That relationship goes both ways. There are concerns, however, about Brown\u2019s knees. He had surgery on both knees in 2021 and sustained another knee injury during the 2023 season. But even with those issues, the veteran has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in each of the past four seasons.<\/p>\n
Of course, if the Patriots move on from Diggs, trading for Brown is an easy way to give Drake Maye another top-flight option.<\/p>\n
The free agent market isn\u2019t great, and people around the league don\u2019t expect Alec Pierce to leave Indianapolis. Veteran Mike Evans doesn\u2019t seem to be a Patriots target at this moment due to health concerns.<\/p>\n
For the Patriots, the biggest issue with potentially releasing Diggs is how they would replace his production. Brown would do that \u2013 but there\u2019s interest from the Patriots even if Diggs remains in New England.<\/p>\n
Patriots fans can only dream.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just lip service.<\/p>\n
Our sources tell us the Patriots believe edge rusher is the team\u2019s biggest priority this offseason. The Patriots are expected to be suitors in the veteran free agent market as well as the draft.<\/p>\n
Although the team would like K\u2019Lavon Chaisson back, it\u2019s not a guarantee he\u2019ll return to New England, as it\u2019s expected he\u2019ll have a robust free agent market. As one league source said, \u201cChaisson\u2019s looking to get paid.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether or not that\u2019s with the Patriots remains to be seen. Add in Harold Landry\u2019s age and injury history, and the team is looking to reload the depth chart.<\/p>\n
Although the free agent class isn\u2019t considered stacked with top talent, the Patriots like a handful of veteran pass rushers.<\/p>\n
Two names to watch are Jaelan Phillips and Trey Hendrickson. We\u2019re told there are quite a few admirers inside Gillette Stadium of both players.<\/p>\n
Phillips was a player the Patriots had interest in during the NFL trade deadline before Miami traded him to Philadelphia. The 26-year-old edge rusher had five sacks last season and is viewed as a fit in Vrabel\u2019s system. The big question, however, is how much the Patriots are willing to spend.<\/p>\n
Intel at the Combine suggests that Phillips will have a decent market, potentially surpassing $20 million per year. He\u2019s considered one of the best available free agents.<\/p>\n
For the right price, the Patriots could also be in the market for Hendrickson. The four-time Pro Bowler missed 10 games last season. Will that bring down his market? In 2024, Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks. He would give the Patriots a prolific pass rusher.<\/p>\n
The Patriots have plenty of options to reinforce this depth chart. Other free agents include Boye Mafe, Odafe Oweh, and Khalil Mack.<\/p>\n
Said one source: \u201cAny good edge player is on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Patriots are looking to get younger with their edge rusher position. Some speculated the team could target multiple pass rushers in the upcoming draft.<\/p>\n
Keep an eye on edge rushers projected for the back end of the first round. Missouri\u2019s Zion Young is a name to watch. We\u2019re told the Tigers edge rusher is already a favorite among several inside Gillette Stadium. He met with the Patriots at the Combine.<\/p>\n
The Patriots also met with Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) and Akheem Mesidor (Miami) in Indy. Both are projected to go in the end of the first round.<\/p>\n
They also met with projected Day 3 prospect Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State) and later-round prospect Quintayvious Hutchins (Boston College).<\/p>\n
The Patriots want Khyiris Tonga back. The defensive tackle also wants to return.<\/p>\n
However, that\u2019s not a guarantee to happen.<\/p>\n
According to a source, the Patriots and Tonga were close on a contract extension before the playoffs. That deal never materialized, falling apart at the last minute.<\/p>\n
The two parties talked again in Indianapolis, but couldn\u2019t come to an agreement because Tonga\u2019s price tag has gone up following the playoff run.<\/p>\n
The veteran had his best season in Foxboro, impacting the defensive line while also playing fullback on offense. He\u2019s expected to have multiple suitors in free agency. For that reason, the Patriots\u2019 original deal, which was close, is no longer in the ballpark for what the defensive tackle might make in free agency.<\/p>\n
The Patriots aren\u2019t done negotiating with Tonga, but there\u2019s a real chance he lands with another team in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
There are some in the NFL who believe Christian Barmore isn\u2019t long for New England.<\/p>\n
That sentiment, however, doesn\u2019t match the feeling inside the building.<\/p>\n
Internally, the Patriots see a talented player, who still has some growing up to do.<\/p>\n
The talented defensive tackle earned a big contract extension in 2024 after leading the Patriots with 8.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits. Since then, it hasn\u2019t been an easy road for Barmore.<\/p>\n
After being diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs in 2024, Barmore\u2019s production has dipped. He\u2019s also had several run-ins with police and has a March 9 court date due to a domestic violence charge.<\/p>\n
One league source predicted Barmore wouldn\u2019t be in New England after this offseason. Multiple teams also told MassLive they wouldn\u2019t be interested in trading for the defensive tackle due to his ongoing legal situation.<\/p>\n
If the Patriots cut Barmore with a post-June 1 designation, they would free up around $11.5 million off the cap this season.<\/p>\n
As it stands, Barmore\u2019s future with the team seems more tied to his court case, than anything else.<\/p>\n
Jared Wilson was considered one of the top center prospects in last year\u2019s draft before moving to left guard for the Patriots.<\/p>\n
Will he move back to his true position?<\/p>\n
We\u2019re told that\u2019s in the cards for the Patriots, but there\u2019s a big hurdle Wilson needs to clear \u2013 Garrett Bradbury.<\/p>\n
The Patriots value Bradbury\u2019s leadership and durability. Those are two things Wilson will need to prove before becoming the team\u2019s starting center. Last year, the rookie missed four games with two different injuries – an ankle injury and a concussion.<\/p>\n
A source told MassLive the Patriots haven\u2019t approached Wilson about moving to center, but it is his preferred position.<\/p>\n
Sources also said that the Patriots would like to create more competition that sees Wilson practicing at center and left guard this offseason.<\/p>\n
If Wilson wins the center competition, the Patriots would need a new starting left guard.<\/p>\n
They recently extended Ben Brown, who was their backup at guard and center last season, and he could easily take over the left guard spot.<\/p>\n
But we\u2019re told the Patriots are likely to add reinforcements.<\/p>\n
Sources said they don\u2019t expect the Patriots to be major suitors in the veteran free agent market. Some names that would provide help are David Edwards and Joel Bitonio.<\/p>\n
Instead, the Patriots are hoping to add another guard in the middle rounds of the draft. The team believes they could find a future starting-caliber player here in the spring.<\/p>\n
Even if they draft someone, it doesn\u2019t mean Wilson is locked into the center position. The Patriots will let the competition play out this offseason.<\/p>\n
The team plans to play the best five, and where that puts Wilson remains to be seen.<\/p>\n
The Patriots truly believe in Will Campbell. They\u2019ve openly stamped him as their left tackle for the present and future. At the moment, that doesn\u2019t appear to be changing.<\/p>\n
However, look for the team to supplement their tackle depth.<\/p>\n
The team is expecting starting right tackle Morgan Moses back. The veteran turns 35 next week, and the Patriots are looking for additional depth. Both backup tackles, Vederian Lowe and Thayer Munford, are free agents.<\/p>\n
According to a source, the Patriots want to re-sign Lowe. However, they\u2019ll have competition for the veteran. Lowe was a popular name at the Combine for teams looking for a backup left tackle.<\/p>\n
This is an area the Patriots are primarily expected to explore in the draft. There are also people inside Gillette Stadium who believe Marcus Bryant, last year\u2019s seventh-round pick, could develop into a steady backup tackle.<\/p>\n
The Patriots were well represented at the Combine this week.<\/p>\n
Among the Patriots assistant coaches present for prospect interviews were receivers coach Todd Downing, quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, running backs coach Tony Dews, offensive line coach Doug Marrone, defensive tackle coach Clint McMillan, safeties coach Justin Booker and special teams coach Jeremy Springer.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a good reason they had so many coaches in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n
After spending over $100 million in free agency last season, the Patriots aren\u2019t expected to make the same big free agent splash this offseason. They\u2019ll still target several veterans (notably an edge rusher) and build depth, but the team is hoping for another strong draft class.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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