Edge rushers K'Lavon Chaisson (left) and Harold Landry were brought in this season to ignite the Patriots pass rush, and they played well, but there is still room for improvement there.
Edge rushers K'Lavon Chaisson (left) and Harold Landry were brought in this season to ignite the Patriots pass rush, and they played well, but there is still room for improvement there.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
INDIANAPOLIS — Ahead of the annual NFL Scouting Combine, let’s take a look at the Patriots’ biggest offseason needs:
Edge rusher: After ranking last in the league in sacks in 2024, the Patriots revamped their pass rush last offseason by signing Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson. The two served as the starting tandem on the edge, finishing the regular season with a combined 16 sacks and 37 quarterback hits.
Although the Patriots collectively improved across multiple metrics, including sacks and pressure rate, they still ranked below average and could not rely on their pass rush to consistently finish. They registered just one sack, by Milton Williams, in the Super Bowl loss to Seattle.
Landry, who will turn 30 in June, also declined over the course of the season while dealing with a knee injury, and will only continue to face questions about his age. A release seems unlikely given the salary cap implications — after June 1, the Patriots would create $15 million in dead money while freeing up only $1.8 million in room — so perhaps a restructure is on the table.
Coach Mike Vrabel and Landry have an incredibly close relationship, but Vrabel made it clear earlier this month that the team is always in search of “better, younger, cheaper” players.
Chaisson, set to become an unrestricted free agent, was initially expected to serve as a situational pass rusher before rising into a starting role. If Chaisson secures a lucrative pay day elsewhere, the Patriots are going to need multiple players to fill the void.
Even if both Landry and Chaisson return next season, beefing up their pass rush will be a top priority for the Patriots. Pairing a reliable, elite edge rusher alongside Williams would make this defense all the more formidable.
There are multiple options for the Patriots in this year’s draft, which is projected to be deep among edge rushers. With the 31st overall pick, they could consider Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, Miami’s Akheem Mesidor, Oklahoma’s Mason Thomas, or Missouri’s Zion Young. They could also opt to pursue Raiders All-Pro Maxx Crosby via trade and/or Odafe Oweh, who logged three sacks for the Chargers in the divisional round, via free agency.
Right tackle Morgan Moses stayed healthy all year and gave the Patriots a veteran presence on the offensive line, but he turns 35 in March.
Right tackle Morgan Moses stayed healthy all year and gave the Patriots a veteran presence on the offensive line, but he turns 35 in March.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Offensive line: The Patriots overhauled this unit last offseason, adding four new starters — Morgan Moses at right tackle, Garrett Bradbury at center, Jared Wilson at left guard, and Will Campbell at left tackle. Such a drastic restructure seems unlikely this season, but there are still several questions surrounding the unit.
Will Wilson stay at left guard? Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf has said he believes center is Wilson’s best position. How soon will the team move him over? Bradbury, who has one year remaining on his contract, played well this past season, but can be released with minimal cap consequences.
Can Moses return to form? He’ll turn 35 in March. He didn’t miss a game this season, displaying the durability that’s defined his long NFL career. But how much more does he have in the tank? Even if Moses is back, the Patriots may want to consider drafting their potential starting right tackle of the future. Or, at minimum, improve their depth, especially if unrestricted free agent Vederian Lowe does not return.
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins cleaned out his locker on Feb. 10, and there's no guarantee the unrestricted free agent will return to New England.
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins cleaned out his locker on Feb. 10, and there's no guarantee the unrestricted free agent will return to New England.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Safety: The Patriots have another key unrestricted free agent here with Jaylinn Hawkins slated to test the open market. Hawkins, who has expressed interest in staying put, played 82.2 percent of the defense’s snaps during the regular season, starting alongside rookie safety Craig Woodson.
If Hawkins does not return, a new starting safety immediately vaults up the list of priorities. Next up on the depth chart is Dell Pettus, who primarily plays on special teams and has played in spots defensively but is probably not ready for an every-down role.
Should Hawkins return, the team should still improve its depth at the position. Given the team’s other needs, though, it would be surprising if they spend a first-round pick on a safety.
Tight end: Hunter Henry just registered the best statistical season of his career, but the Patriots undoubtedly need another TE. They could elect to bring back Austin Hooper, who is also set to hit unrestricted free agency, but still need to get younger and faster at the position.
Although this year’s class lacks the high-end prospects of last year (e.g. Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland), the Patriots could still find viable contributors on Day 2 — from the likes of Ohio State’s Max Klare, Michigan’s Marlin Klein, and Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers.
If the Patriots decide to turn to free agency, there are two prime candidates in Baltimore’s Isaiah Likely, a Massachusetts native, and Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts. Both are 25 years old.
Will star wide receiver Stefon Diggs return to the spotlight in a Patriots uniform next season?
Will star wide receiver Stefon Diggs return to the spotlight in a Patriots uniform next season?Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Wide receiver: This group exceeded expectations, but the offense still lacks a traditional go-to option. All of the Patriots receivers are under contract for next season, though the Patriots can release Stefon Diggs after June 1 to free up $20.8 million in cap space.
Diggs turned back the clock with his 1,013-yard season, before disappearing during the playoffs and also dealing with off-field headlines. The Patriots will have to decide if he is worth the team’s second-biggest cap number at $26.5 million.
If the Patriots move on, then they could try to find an immediate impact player at the end of the first round (like Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion), swing a trade for somebody like Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas or Eagles standout A.J. Brown, or pursue a veteran in free agency like Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans.
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com. Follow her on X @nicolecyang.