Much of the offseason heavy lifting is over, which means that it's headed into full-on draft season, with the three-day event set for April 27-29 in Kansas City.
Have the Patriots done enough? Is there enough on the roster with returners to fill the gaps? Can they get what they need in the draft?
Let's dive into the state of the roster by resetting our depth chart, and team needs list:
OFFENSE
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
(Each photo should be clickable, but here is a link for better viewing).
Let's update the 2023 lineup as of today (change from the start of the offseason in bold):
Offense
QB Mac Jones
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
3D RB: Pierre Strong
WR1: DeVante Parker
WR2: Juju Smith-Schuster
WR3: Kendrick Bourne
TE1: Hunter Henry
TE2: Mike Gesicki
LT: Trent Brown
LG: Cole Strange
C: David Andrews
RG: Mike Onwneu
RT: Riley Reiff
Defense
Edge1: Matthew Judon
Edge2: Deatrich Wise
NT: Davon Godchaux
DT: Lawrence Guy
Sub DT: Christian Barmore
Sub Edge: Josh Uche
MLB: Ja'Whaun Bentley
WLB: Jahlani Tavai
FS: Jalen Mills
SS: Kyle Dugger
S3: Adrian Phillips
CB1: Jonathan Jones
CB2: Jack Jones
SCB: Marcus Jones
As opposed to before the offseason, the Patriots can now lineup, field an experienced team and compete.
2023 OFFSEASON UPDATED NEEDS LIST
What we said previously, and whether the landscape has changed.
FREE SAFETY
If McCourty does not return, the Patriots don't have a ready replacement on the roster. Myles Bryant has dabbled there from time to time, but he's pretty small for that spot.
McCourty did retire, and right now this spot is wide open. We'd put Mills as the leader in the clubhouse. Sure seems like the Patriots were moving on from Mills as a cornerback, but his safety experience is a good safety net. Expect Myles Bryant and Joshuah Bledsoe to get real looks at this spot once on-field practices resume.
Upgrade/downgrade/TBD?
Downgrade, but not a huge dropoff. Yes, McCourty did a good job with communication but there are so many veterans in this group, that's not a huge concern. And the position isn't crucial in this scheme. You just have to be in the right position, not let anything over your head, and be a sure tackler. Patriots should be able to figure it out.
STARTING OT
Doesn't really matter which side he plays, just that the Patriots get an immediate starter at OT. Free agency is really pricey. Would like to see this addressed highly in the draft, and look for a budget reclamation project. Ideally, the Patriots find a LT starter and move Trent Brown to RT. Most college OTs need at least a year of development so Brown at LT for a year might have to be the path.
Patriots signed Riley Reiff, Calvin Anderson and Conor McDermott, brought back Yodny Cajuste and still have Andrew Stueber. Reiff gets the first shot but we won't be surprised if Anderson doesn't grab RT with his athletic ability. Still screaming for a draft OT, but it doesn't appear the Patriots are desperate due to the amount of resources they've thrown at this. If they did get the tackle they wanted, it seems Trent Brown would be on the way out.
Upgrade/downgrade/TBD?
Really TBD with the draft, but certainly not a downgrade from Isaiah Wynn (still a free agent), Marcus Cannon and McDermott. They should be able to figure RT out if Adrian Klemm was worth the money.
TIGHT END
Other than Jonnu Smith, the Patriots have absolutely nothing at the position beyond this season. Need to find a future starter or two.
Mike Gesicki is here on a modest one-year, prove-it deal so they're set with two starters, but they're both entering contract years.
Upgrade/downgrade/TBD?
Upgrade for now, for sure, but Patriots need a young stud to develop in the draft. Someone who can block would be aces.
CORNERBACK
Patriots have enough at cornerback to be decent, but the surest path back to contender is for them to find their next No. 1 along the likes of Revis and Gilmore. Trade might be the best path.
Patriots did nothing at this spot. Hoping for development, mostly.
Upgrade/downgrade/TBD?
TBD ... big time. Another position screaming for an impact player to boost the overall unit. Right now they just have a bunch of twos and threes, but Jack and Marcus Jones have upside.
LINEBACKER
Patriots don't need an immediate starter but someone they view as a Mike starter one year out would be ideal.
They just got the limited athletic band back together.
Upgrade/downgrade/TBD?
TBD ... one of these years, Belichick's going to grab an athletic force in the draft, right? Some in the building are pining for it. They see what we see.
EDGE
Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings are headed into contract years and put together they are one good edge player. There is nothing in the pipeline here as well.
Status quo on the roster.
Upgrade/downgrade/TBD?
TBD. We'll know if the Patriots think they have a shot at extending Uche by whether or not they add a drafted player here. If I'm Uche, I'm betting on myself Mark Anderson-style. Another season like last year, and he'd kill it in free agency.
SLOT/PLAYMAKER
Kendrick Bourne is in a contract year and whether it's inside or outside, the Patriots need to find one dangerous player that can cut on a dime, start and stop, go from 0 to 60 very quickly. Outside of Bourne, there aren't many make-you-miss types.
They replaced Jakobi Meyers as the slot with Smith-Schuster, who is a little bit better. Still need to find a playmaker.
Upgrade/downgrade/TBD?
TBD. If the Patriots trade down, it's game on for a playmaking receiver lower in the first round. I can't see the Patriots' grading system allowing them to take one of these draft receivers at 14.
___________________
It's pretty obvious at this point that Bill Belichick is betting on himself, Bill O'Brien and Adrian Klemm to boost this roster, and Belichick thought he was on the right track last year before The Hoodie shot himself in the foot with the coaching decisions. Belichick is doubling down that this roster, in the mold of those used when Tom Brady was QB, can "be competitive" against everyone, and coaching will make the difference.
I can understand him thinking that way, but this roster could use impact players at CB, WR and OT to complete the rebuild this season.
That's putting a lot of pressure on the draft. At least Belichick seems more willing to do that in recent years.
NICKEL PACKAGE
1. If you wanted another source for accuracy on the Mac Jones trade rumors, former Patriots executive Mike Lombardi is about as good as it's going to get:
“I know he’s not shopping Mac, but I I’m not saying that (Mike) Florio’s report is completely wrong,” Lombardi on his GM Shuffle podcast. “Because I wouldn’t be surprised if Nick (Caserio) or some other team called him up because they’re reading all the (expletive) in the paper… But that’s not shopping.
“Did the Texans call Bill and say, ‘Are you going to move Mac?’ and he said, ‘What do you offer?’ Because every player is available, right? But not every player is being shopped. So the idea that he’s shopping Mac is that’s against everything he would do, First of all, he’s the most secretive person in the league. He’s not going to tell you anything he’s doing. Even some people in the organization don’t know.
“But if somebody comes to him and says, ‘I’ll give you a (first) for Mac.’ I mean, OK, does that mean he’s shopping him? No, that just means somebody asked the question.
“I’ll say correctly, he’s not being shopped. The report’s erroneous. ... Belichick is way smarter than I am… He’s not saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to trade Mac Jones.’ He knows the repercussions of it. But now can he stop somebody from asking? Of course not."
2. Some sources should be viewed as having an ax to grind, like whoever told Albert Breer the following:
By the end of last year, the coaches didn’t think there was a massive chasm between the two. Jones has the physical edge, but not by a mile. Jones is also incredibly football smart, but Zappe’s sharp, too, and last year’s staff felt like Zappe closed any gap there by following the coach when Jones didn’t.
Sounds like that source maybe didn't have a lot of NFL experience on offense ... and it should stay that way.
Draft position proves that there is indeed a chasm. If Kyle Shanahan stuck to his guns, Mac Jones would have been the third pick in that draft, and he might have a Super Bowl title by now.
3. I'm so sick of this storyline and I think I'm done with it now. If you need this for content right now, you're not trying very hard.
4. By the way, there are some reports that Jones' potential fifth-year option would be somewhere around $35 million due to his Pro Bowl appearance after his rookie season. I believe this is incorrect. You have to be originally selected for the team. Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert were the AFC QBs; Jones was a replacement selection. Doesn't count in the calculation. Jones will only get the playing time incentive — if he's not benched by Belichick for Bailey Zappe. Jones' fifth-year option is probably going to be around $25 million.
5. This was awesome to see. Congrats, Dante Scarnecchia!
The moment Robert Kraft announced Dante Scarnecchia as a contributor to @TheHall 🥹 pic.twitter.com/gP9OGv6CqA
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 6, 2023
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