The New England Patriots had a busy first week of NFL free agency, signing eight players since the opening of the legal tampering window last Monday. While not all of the moves are guaranteed to have a major impact on the team, they did address some holes and improved either the starter level or the overall depth of the team.
Still, with the first wave of free agency over, the Patriots are still lacking at some positions. Wide receiver, tight end, defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback and safety could still benefit from more talent being brought aboard to compete. Some of it will surely come via the draft, but free agency also still has some candidates the team might consider.
In order to find out who those players are, we are looking at the top-200 consensus board compiled by Acme Packing Company’s Justis Mosqueda.
Quarterback
25: Aaron Rodgers
45: Kirk Cousins
102: Russell Wilson
128: Joe Flacco
181: Carson Wentz
The Patriots have no need at the quarterback position. They entered the offseason with Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs both under contract, and later retained third-stringer Tommy DeVito on a two-year extension. Even if they had not made that move, none of the QBs listed here would have been realistic targets in the first place.
Running back
106: Najee Harris
110: Brian Robinson
183: Jeremy McNichols
191: Raheem Mostert
In an expected move, Deneric Price was not tendered by the Patriots as a restricted free agent. While this removes another option from a running back group that currently carries three players behind a top two of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson — Terrell Jennings, Lan Larison, Elijah Mitchell — the Patriots do not appear to be under much pressure to add another RB to the mix, particularly not one of the high-profile variety.
Wide receiver
15: Jauan Jennings
35: Deebo Samuel
43: Stefon Diggs
49: Tyreek Hill
79: Keenan Allen
(92: Brandon Aiyuk)
103: Christian Kirk
130: DeAndre Hopkins
133: Marquise Brown
Even though they signed Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million contract, the Patriots are not done adding to their wide receiver group. The question is what form those next additions will take. They could still pursue A.J. Brown or Brian Thomas Jr. as trade options o wait for the draft to add to the mix. They also, however, could look to a free agent group that still has some big names unaccounted for — including Stefon Diggs, whose return to New England on a more favorable deal was not ruled out by executive vice president Eliot Wolf.
63: David Njoku
118: Jonnu Smith
159: Darren Waller
179: John FitzPatrick
The Patriots signed Julian Hill to a three-year deal to serve as a blocking tight end, but the Patriots could still benefit from more receiving talent at the position. The draft offers some even beyond the early rounds, while a veteran option like David Njoku also might be attractive at the right cost.
Offensive tackle
38: Taylor Decker
108: Jonah Williams
122: Jawaan Taylor
153: Cam Robinson
The Patriots’ tackle depth behind starters Will Campbell and Morgan Moses is questionable, but that does not mean the team will go out and spend top dollar on a player at the position. Maybe Cam Robinson might be an attractive option if willing to function as a swing tackle, but other than him it appears the lower-tiers of free agency or the draft are the more realistic markets for the team to explore at this point in time.
Interior offensive line
42: Joel Bitonio
61: Wyatt Teller
72: Kevin Zeitler
89: Mekhi Becton
114: Greg Van Roten
143: James Daniels
147: Ethan Pocic
149: Daniel Faalele
Signing Alijah Vera-Tucker to a three-year, $42 million contract gives the Patriots some definitive starter potential at left guard, but he comes with his own set of questions after struggling with injury for much of his career. The team put up some contractual safeguards, but the depth behind him at the moment consists primarily of Ben Brown and Caedan Wallace. If they feel this is enough, players such as the ones listed here are not realistic options to be brought aboard. If not — and there is little indication at this time that that is the case — the veteran market might become attractive again.
Interior defensive line
60: Calais Campbell
64: D.J. Reader
77: DaQuan Jones
Khyiris Tonga taking his talents to Kansas City last week created a sizable hole along the Patriots’ interior D-line. While a soon-to-be 40-year-old Calais Campbell might not be the answer despite still playing quality football, D.J. Reader and DaQuan Jones look like potential targets to help fill the early-down role played by Tonga in 2025: both are massive human beings at 330 and 320 pounds each, respectively, and could serve as space eaters up front.
Defensive edge
29: Joey Bosa
76: Jadeveon Clowney
90: Cameron Jordan
132: Von Miller
137: A.J. Epenesa
145: Brandon Graham
150: Dante Fowler Jr.
157: Derek Barnett
160: Haason Reddick
166: Kyle Van Noy
169: D.J. Wonnum
200: Preston Smith
The Patriot suffered a net loss on the edge last week. While they did sign Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year pact worth $36.5 million, they also saw K’Lavon Chaisson sign with the Commanders and decided to release Anfernee Jennings. More reinforcements are needed, and free agency still provides some intriguing options. Among them is former first overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney, who worked under Mike Vrabel in both Houston and Tennessee.
Linebacker
62: Bobby Wagner
111: Germaine Pratt
131: Matt Milano
(142: Lavonte David)
172: Jack Gibbens
197: Eric Kendricks
Re-signing Jack Gibbens after not tendering him in restricted free agency still seems like a potential move the Patriots might make to bolster their linebacker corps, but they also added K.J. Britt on a one-year deal recently. Could they follow that move up with another veteran addition? Theoretically, yes. However, Eliot Wolf indicated at the Scouting Combine that his team might be looking to the draft to bolster a group currently headlined by Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss.
Cornerback
84: Rasul Douglas
104: Mike Hilton
129: Trevon Diggs
154: Cam Taylor-Britt
195: Fabian Moreau
199: Tre’Davious White
Even though the Patriots have one of the best starting trios in football, the depth behind Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Alex Austin could benefit from some improvement particularly after Alex Austin’s departure. The expectation is that the position will be targeted at some point the draft, but the veteran market also has some talent sill unaccounted for.
98: Jabrill Peppers
115: Harrison Smith
138: Geno Stone
139: Donovan Wilson
162: Xavier Woods
164: Kyle Dugger
168: Jordan Poyer
173: Chuck Clark
175: Tony Jefferson
176: Andrew Wingard
185: Ifeatu Melifonwu
There are some familiar names on this list, but it seems like the Patriots already made their main move by signing Kevin Byard to a one-year, $9 million contract. Adding extra depth might still be important, especially with the same lacking at cornerback as well, but no splashes should be expected at this point in time.