The Patriots gave Milton Williams a four-year, $104 million contract with $63 million guaranteed to be a building block of a rebuilding defensive line.
The Patriots gave Milton Williams a four-year, $104 million contract with $63 million guaranteed to be a building block of a rebuilding defensive line.Matt Patterson/Associated Press
Few teams have been as active in the early stages of free agency as the Patriots.
On Sunday and Monday, New England was particularly aggressive early on defense, adding five players who appear capable of contributing immediately: defensive tackle Milton Williams, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, cornerback Carlton Davis, edge defender Harold Landry, and linebacker Robert Spillane. New England’s sizable defensive investment (a combined $146.8 million in guaranteed money for those five players) has set the tone for the Patriots’ approach through the early stages of the team-building process.
Now, the focus figures to shift to the offensive side of the ball. And given the possible free-agent fits and its remaining areas of need — namely, left tackle and wide receiver — New England will now likely rely on the draft (or trades on draft weekend) to find answers to its most pressing personnel questions on offense.
Up front, the addition of veteran free agent Morgan Moses represents a stabilizing presence for New England at right tackle. A sturdy veteran, he’s played in every game in eight of his 11 seasons in the league. The 34-year-old Moses should give the Patriots time to develop youngster Caedan Wallace while providing a cost-effective path forward into 2025 and beyond.
At the same time, there are still questions about left tackle. The debate about Will Campbell and whether his arm length could mean a transition inside from tackle to guard for the LSU product. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf have suggested arm length isn’t a deal breaker at the tackle position. If so, given New England’s moves thus far, Campbell could ultimately be the call at No. 4.
LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell could be available for the Patriots, who hold the fourth pick in next month's NFL Draft.
LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell could be available for the Patriots, who hold the fourth pick in next month's NFL Draft.Michael Conroy/Associated Press
“I think arm length is good only up until the point to where you use it, right?” asked Vrabel last month at the combine. “I mean, I think if guys are sitting there and they’re catching or they’re clamping or their hands are outside; maybe they’re not as long as maybe they would be if you’re punched.
“Having seen some of the offensive linemen — and probably being with that group a little bit more extensively last season in Cleveland — there’s a lot of independent hand-punchers. There are players that will punch with an independent hand, and then bring a second one in.
“I think the most important thing is how you use whatever length you have. If you’re a long-arm player that uses the length, then great, that’s an added plus. If you’re maybe an average-length player that doesn’t use the length, that would be difficult. But if you’re using it, then that can be positive.”
If the Patriots don’t like Campbell’s measurables but are still in the market for a left tackle in the upper reaches of the first round, another possibility is Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas, who appears likely to be chosen in the top half of the first round. Missouri’s Armand Membou has been the subject of some pre-draft buzz; while he would likely be an overdraft at No. 4, he could also be a target of New England if the Patriots traded down in the first round.
In addition, Oregon’s Josh Conerly and Ohio State’s Josh Simmons have emerged as first- or second-round possibilities of New England wants to either trade down from No. 4 or trade up from the 38th overall choice at the top of the second round.
At receiver, after Monday’s decision to sign Mack Hollins, a handful of veteran free agents still on the board — after the first full day of the tampering period, veterans receivers like Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, Cooper Kupp, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine are all still available. However, most of them are near or over 30, and most don’t figure to be ideal long-term fits for a team with a rebuilding offense like New England.
In the draft, the biggest name at receiver is Heisman winner Travis Hunter. Hunter, who has professed a desire to play both offense and defense at the next level, is easily the best receiver of the bunch. While it’s unclear whether or not he would last until the fourth overall pick, his unique skill set and world-class speed would certainly make him an attractive option if he was there.
“Travis Hunter is a tremendous prospect,” Wolf said. “As a number of these guys are. He’s obviously been very unique — won the Heisman Trophy playing both ways. He’s really unique and instinctive at both positions. So I think there’s a scenario where he’s probably going to major in one and minor in the other.”
Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is the best wide receiver in the upcoming draft, and he also wants to play cornerback.
Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is the best wide receiver in the upcoming draft, and he also wants to play cornerback.Ed Zurga/Getty
In addition, Tet McMillan (Arizona), Luther Burden (Missouri), Matthew Golden (Texas), and Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State) could hear their names called by the Patriots if New England maneuvers itself into the middle stages of the first round and is still looking for a receiver.
In the end, whether the focus is offense or defense come draft weekend, the goal remains the same: find the best possible prospect to help with the turnaround.
“We’re not afraid of anything. We just have to have options,” Vrabel said. “You can’t just say ‘We’re going to get this guy,’ because you’re not going to bat 1.000. Everybody else is trying to go for the same player. Having a really detailed plan and approach is probably the only thing to make sure we are doing, which I believe we are.
“Being able to quickly pivot on the next option and understand where that line is. We’re not going to sign players just to sign them. But making sure we have a plan in place for ‘OK, if it’s not this player, then is it this player? Or is it this player?’ That’s what I want to make sure that we do.”
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him @cpriceglobe.