It’s no secret that the New England Patriots have a ton of weaknesses to improve on heading into the 2025 NFL season.
The 2025 NFL Draft This will obviously provide a great opportunity for the Patriots to address some of these roster concerns, but a significant part of that process needs to happen in free agency.
The Patriots are projected to have the most salary cap space among all 32 teams next offseason – well over $100 million, by OverTheCap.
It’s very important for the Patriots to surround quarterback Drake Maye with as much offensive talent as possible. Maye looks like the real deal in his rookie campaign, but he won’t reach his full potential without better weapons at the skill positions and a stronger offensive line.
Defense cannot be forgotten either. Finding another top cornerback to play alongside Christian Gonzalez should also be a priority, as well as adding a formidable edge rusher who can consistently put pressure on the opposing quarterback.
Which players at these positions can become free agents in March? Here’s a look at the best that might be available.
Wide receivers
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Higgins is a true No. 1 and will be 26 years old in the first week of the 2025 season, so he is right at the sweet spot in his career.
Here’s some of what our Patriots insider Phil Perry wrote about Higgins in his Five-point plan to fix New England’s offense this offseason:
“The Bengals might be willing to let Higgins go this offseason if they have no intention of paying him and Ja’Marr Chase high-end deals. With $118 million in effective cap space, the Patriots might be able to step in and offer Higgins more than anyone else if they have any apprehension about Higgins not being a true “No. 1”, they can take comfort in the fact that in five games without Chase since 2022, Higgins is not a true “No. 1”. He has accumulated 31 catches for 511 yards and six touchdowns.
The only concern with Higgins is injuries. He has missed five games in 2023 and has missed five this season as well. But when Higgins played, he was quite productive with 43 receptions for 558 yards and five touchdowns in seven games.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If Godwin is healthy, you can expect him to total around 80 receptions and over 1,000 yards. He’s as reliable as it gets at the wide receiver position. Injuries are a potential concern for Godwin, however. He underwent ACL surgery in 2022 and saw his 2024 campaign end prematurely when he suffered a dislocated ankle in October, which also required surgery. Godwin was in the middle of a great season when the injury occurred. He had 50 catches for 576 yards and five touchdowns in seven games. He will be 29 next season.
Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills
Cooper entered 2024 with over 1,100 receiving yards in four of the previous five seasons. It is very reliable and productive. His stats this season don’t jump out at all – 34 receptions, 386 yards, three touchdowns in 10 games – but after being traded from the struggling Browns to the No. 1 Bills in October, the veteran has a great chance. to improve his free agency stock through the end of the regular season and playoffs.
Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans
Diggs has long been a model of consistency with four straight 100-catch seasons (five of his last six as well). But he’s currently on pace to finish well under the century mark this season with 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games with the Texans. Diggs is still a very good wideout, but he’s 31 years old. Should the Patriots pay him superstar money when he will likely soon start to decline in production?
DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs
The Patriots brought Hopkins to Foxboro for a free agent visit in 2023 but he ultimately ended up signing with the Tennessee Titans. He was traded to the Chiefs earlier this season and played well for the defending champions. Hopkins had 41 receptions for 498 yards and four touchdowns between the Titans and Chiefs this season. He’s still a very good player at 32 years old. Ideally, the Patriots would have a younger player like Higgins, but Hopkins would be a solid second or third option.
Offensive tackle
Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens
Stanley has been one of the best left tackles in the league this season, especially in pass protection. The 30-year-old veteran is in his ninth season and stands 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds.
Garrett Bolles, Denver Broncos
Here’s what our Patriots insider Phil Perry wrote about Bolles as part of his five-point plan to fix the Patriots offense:
“Good offensive tackles don’t change teams often, but Bolles is an interesting case. He’s only a few months away from free agency and is having a tremendous season for one of the best offensive lines in the soccer.
“Still, he was involved in trade rumors shortly after Sean Payton took over the Broncos last year, and it’s worth wondering if they’ll be willing to extend to keep the 32-year-old in Denver Among the 54 tackles with at least 500 snaps this season, Pro Football Focus gave Bolles its second-highest pass blocking grade.
Cam Robinson, Minnesota Vikings
Robinson was a good left tackle on many bad Jaguars teams before being traded to the Vikings in late October. He is a proven starting caliber tackle and would be an upgrade for the Patriots.
Dan Moore Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers
Moore is having a breakout year for the Steelers, and most recently shut down Bengals star passer Trey Hendrickson in Pittsburgh’s Week 13 win at Cincinnati. Moore, 26, is also a durable player who has started all 61 games he has played for the Steelers over the past four seasons (including 2024).
Morgan Moses, New York Jets
Moses has great size (6-foot-6, 318 pounds) and strength and plays through pain. It is also quite durable. Moses is best suited at right tackle, and when healthy, he is often a top-15 pick at that position. The Patriots need a left tackle more than a right tackle, but if Moses is available, he would still be worth pursuing.
Edge rusher
Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
Mack has been a great player for a long time. He had a career-high 17 sacks for the Chargers last season, and while he hasn’t been as dominant in 2024 – 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 11 games – the veteran passer is still a very efficient player. He dealt with a few injuries earlier in his career, but he’s only missed one game since the start of the 2022 campaign. Mack, at 33, wouldn’t be a long-term solution for the Patriots, but he would be a good short-term addition for a defense that hasn’t been able to generate a good, consistent pass rush.
Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles
Sweat has seven sacks in 12 games, so it’s fair to assume he’ll eventually eclipse his career-high of eight sacks set in 2022. The 27-year-old veteran is a physical passer with 42 career sacks and great strength at 6 feet. -5 and 265 pounds.
Haason Reddick, New York Jets
Reddick was traded from the Eagles to the Jets in March, but didn’t report to work until October, when he and New York finally agreed to an adjusted contract. The situation was a distraction for the Jets, and perhaps it will prevent teams from seriously pursuing Reddick in free agency. But there’s no denying his talent. Reddick had at least 11 sacks in four straight seasons from 2020-23.
Malcolm Koonce, Las Vegas Raiders
Koonce had career-highs of eight sacks and 43 tackles during a breakout 2023 season for the Raiders, but a knee injury kept him from playing a single game this year. The injury poses some risk, but at 26 years old, Koonce could be a major home run for whichever team takes a chance on him.
Chase Young, New Orleans Saints
The 2020 No. 2 overall pick is still only 25 years old and is a very good passer who draws double teams. Young had 3.5 sacks with 21 tackles and a forced fumble in 12 games with the Saints this season
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Cornerback
DJ Reed, New York Jets
Can the Jets afford to pay Reed and fellow cornerback Sauce Gardner mega-extensions in the near future? If Reed reaches free agency, the Patriots would be wise to pursue him. He would give New England another elite level talent in this position group. Reed has had at least nine assists in each of the last four seasons (nine in 2024).
Charvarius Quarter, San Francisco 49ers
Ward is a very good coverage cornerback, especially in man coverage. But with the 49ers having so many high salaries, it’s fair to wonder if they’ll be able to afford the 28-year-old veteran. The 49ers recently signed cornerback Deommodore Lenoir to a five-year, $92 million extension.
Rasul Douglas, Buffalo Bills
Losing Douglas to the division rival Patriots would be a setback for the Bills, whose defense has played pretty well this season. Douglas is a reliable veteran with eight years of experience. He has thrown four or more interceptions in three of his last five seasons.
Carlton Davis III, Detroit Lions
Davis has been a fantastic addition for the Lions, who acquired him in March in a trade with the Buccaneers. The 27-year-old veteran had 40 solo tackles with two interceptions and 10 assists for the Lions. He also has Super Bowl winning experience from his time with the Bucs. Davis would be an important addition to the Patriots opposite Christian Gonzalez.
Paulson Adebo, New Orleans Saints
Adebo suffered a season-ending injury in October and required surgery to repair a fractured femur. Before the injury, Adebo was playing very well for the Saints. He’s still only 25 years old and has 10 interceptions in four seasons with New Orleans.
