PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Patriots venture into free agency didn’t work out as planned last offseason.
With a rookie head coach and no franchise quarterback, the results weren’t as anyone had hoped. Last year, the Patriots many swings turned into too many misses for a roster that desperately needed help. They added some depth with veteran signings such as Austin Hooper, Antonio Gibson, and Jacoby Brissett, but the team didn’t have a marquee free agent signing in 2024.
For Eliot Wolf, that changed this offseason.
The Patriots were aggressive this month and head into April signing seven projected starters – four on defense (Milton Williams, Harold Landy, Carlton Davis, and Robert Spillane) and three on offense (Stefon Diggs, Morgan Moses, and Garrett Bradbury).
Speaking to MassLive on Monday from the NFL Annual Meetings, Wolf said he was pleased with the results but notes there’s still more to come.
“Yeah, I liked the players that we signed,” Wolf told MassLive. “We definitely think we improved the team. We still have work to be done, obviously, at some positions, but we do like the players and the people that we’ve been able to acquire.”
Up next, the Patriots de facto general manager pointed to the team’s offensive line. Last season, the offense allowed 52 sacks. That was the most in New England since 1999 and the sixth most in franchise history. Wolf signed Moses to be his right tackle and Bradbury to be the Patriots center. However, the team lacks proven starters at left tackle and left guard.
The Patriots had different levels of reported interest in veteran free agent left tackles Ronnie Stanley (re-signed with Baltimore), Jaylen Moore (signed with Kansas City), Dan Moore (signed with Tennessee), and Cam Robinson (signed with Houston). The team also had interest in veteran left guards Patrick Mekari (signed with Jacksonville) and Will Fries (signed with Minnesota).
The Patriots have lacked stability at left tackle over the last three years. Wolf said he believes the team will be able to rectify the problem and find a capable starting left tackle for Drake Maye come Week 1.
“We’re very confident whether it comes from the draft or trade or something like that,” Wolf said. “We’re still going to be turning over rocks and trying to find the best way to acquire talent.”
The Patriots have signed 14 veteran free agents this offseason. The roster already looks vastly different from what was seen last fall.
On defense, the Patriots added talent to all three levels. Wolf signed two edge rushers (Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson), two defensive tackles (Williams and Khyiris Tonga), two linebackers (Spillane and Jack Gibbens), and two defensive backs (Davis and Marcus Epps).
On offense, the team added two veteran receivers (Diggs and Mack Hollins), a veteran quarterback (Josh Dobbs), and three offensive linemen (Moses, Bradbury, and Wes Schweitzer).
It’s a big change from a year ago when the team’s biggest moves were re-signing their players. Their outside additions in 2024 were Hooper, Gibson, Brissett, Sione Takitaki, K.J. Osborn, Nick Leverett, Jaylinn Hawkins, Joey Slye, Mitchell Wilcox, and Mike Purcell.
As Wolf noted, the Patriots still have a lot of work to do before they’re contending in the AFC.
“I still think certainly the offensive line is an area that we will be looking to improve, but you know, that’s not to say we’re not looking to improve every area.”
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