Patriots Future: New England has positioned itself to remake franchise in 2021 and beyond

We all knew that this Patriots offseason, if Tom Brady exited, was going to be one of the weirdest in franchise history. And that hasn't disappointed.

But it's been more curious than we thought.

Why?

The parade of one-year contracts that have been handed out.

Since Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater signed two-year extensions, the Patriots' offense has gone like this...

LG Joe Thuney ... franchise tag.
WR Damiere Byrd ... one-year contract.
FB Dan Vitale ... one-year contract.
DE Brandon Copeland ... one-year contract.
QB Brian Hoyer ... one-year contract.
ST Cody Davis ... one-year contract.
DE Shilique Calhoun ... one-year contract.

Of the free agents signed this offseason, only DT Beau Allen and FS Adrian Phillips were given multi-year deals, and they were given just two-year contracts.

That gives the Patriots, right now, a grand total of 30 players under contract for 2021 — and it's a 90-man roster.

Of that, special teams (four players), represents 13.3 percent of the 2021 roster (naturally). There are as many receivers (four) as special teams players.

Of the 30 under contract, half (15 of 30) have never played a full season for the Patriots. Ten (33 percent) have yet to play a full NFL season.

And there are five positions (including two of the three linebacker spots) that don't have any players.

Here's the 2021 depth chart right now:



Of course, with only one-third of the roster filled, the Patriots should have gobs of cap space ... and they do.

According to overthecap.com, the Patriots rank fourth in the league in effective (signing minimum players to reach top 51) cap space at over $96 million.



So what does that mean?

Well, for one thing, the Patriots didn't have a whole lot of options considering their terrible cap situation this year. Once Thuney was tagged to the tune of $15 million and Brady's $13.5-million dead money charge hit, the Patriots had basically no cap space to sign anyone to a big deal, unless they wanted to defer most of their payment until the 2021 league year.

That could still happen. Any extensions the Patriots reach this year (Thuney, James White and Stephon Gilmore are the prime candidates) could happen with heavy 2021 roster bonuses.

But, basically, this has been a free agency like no other for the Patriots. Signing so many players to cheap, one-year contracts basically is just plugging holes this year with the real aim being for max flexibility in 2021.

All the players, essentially, are on prove-it deals and can be released before the 2021 season, including Gilmore (he's expected to get an extension before that).

The only players who really can't be released — and, really, everyone could because of all the cap space the Patriots have — in 2021 are McCourty, Shaq Mason, Isaiah Wynn and N'Keal Harry.

With so much flexibility, the Patriots could bring in a new QB starter in 2021 if Jarrett Stidham doesn't look up the task this season.

The Patriots can do anything they want.

The only real franchise quarterback set to be a free agent in 2021 is Houston's Deshaun Watson, but it's highly likely he'll be given the franchise tag if he doesn't receive an extension this year. Of course, with Bill O'Brien's recent trade history, nothing can be ruled out.

Top available (not Watson and Patrick Mahomes) free agents in 2021:

By the way, the edge players are outstanding.

Quarterbacks
Jacoby Brissett
C.J. Beathard
Nick Mullens

Running backs
Derrick Henry
Leonard Fournette
Christian McCaffrey

Wide receivers
A.J. Green
T.Y. Hilton
Kenny Stills
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Allen Robinson
Kenny Golladay
Chris Godwin
Cooper Kupp
Mike Williams

Tight ends
George Kittle
Jonnu Smith
OJ Howard
Hunter Henry

Offensive linemen
Ronnie Stanley
Laremy Tunsil
Justin Britt
Alex Mack
Mike Pouncey
Ryan Ramczyk
Taylor Decker

Interior defensive linemen
Chris Jones
Tyrone Crawford
Sheldon Rankins
Steve McClendon
Kenny Clark
Corey Peters

Edge players
Bud Dupree
T.J. Watt
Joey Bosa
Matt Judon
Yannick Ngakoue
Melvin Ingram
Olivier Vernon
Justin Houston

Linebackers
Lavonte David
K.J. Wright
Demario Davis
De'Vondre Campbell
Haason Reddick
Jarrad Davis
Zach Cunningham
Jayon Brown

Cornerback
Patrick Peterson
Richard Sherman
Jalen Ramsey
Marshon Lattimore
Tre'Davious White
Marlon Humphrey

Of course, many more could be released from their contracts or traded. Bill Belichick knows all this, he's no dummy. He saw this coming two or three years down the road.

He has a plan, there's a reason this is happening. No one for sure knows what will happen in 2021, but it looks like it's going to be fun.

Coming tomorrow ... How this affects the drafts, this year and beyond.