Updating the Patriots’ depth chart after their huge free agency class

How has Bill Belichick reshaped this roster?

Bill Belichick performed surgery on the New England Patriots during the 2021 offseason. This is a very different team than the one the coach led in 2020. And perhaps that’s for good reason, with last year’s team finishing at 7-9.

Clearly, Belichick didn’t want to scrap that roster altogether. He retained key leaders from that group: Cam Newton, David Andrews, James White, Lawrence Guy, Justin Bethel. But New England also upgraded aggressively with its ample cap space. You probably know the names by now — the Patriots targeted receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, linebacker Matthew Judon and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, among others.

Here’s a look at how the depth chart has changed after the bulk of the Patriots’ free agency signings. There will be more additions, but it’s worth taking a moment to review how the team looks (currently with 79 players and 10 draft picks for 2021).