The New England Patriots head into the summer — equipped with OTAs (organized team activities), mandatory minicamp, and eventually, training camp — with several outside the organization, including the national media, local media and fan base, wondering if the team made enough offseason moves necessary for the team to compete in a suddenly loaded AFC.
Several teams in the conference have bolstered their rosters via blockbuster moves and acquisitions to catch teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Patriots AFC East foe Buffalo Bills as potential Super Bowl contenders.
Has New England done enough to keep up?
Other than trading for former Miami Dolphin wide receiver DeVante Parker, signing safety/linebacker hybrid Jabrill Peppers, and welcoming back Malcolm Butler, Bill Belichick, Matt Groh and the franchise’s front office were rather quiet on the additions front in the early free agency period. Of course, much of that is due to limited cap space from the 2021 spending spree.
In the draft, the team shocked many by selecting UT-Chattanooga offensive lineman Cole Strange (first round, No. 29 overall) and Baylor receiver Tyquan Thornton (second round, No. 50 overall) with its first two picks before selecting back-to-back cornerbacks in Marcus Jones and Jack Jones in rounds three and four. The consensus from the media and many mock drafts in the pre-draft process was that some of these players could have been added significantly later than where they were picked.
Generally team seems set on some what of a run-it-back approach with personnel, despite losing key pieces like cornerback J.C. Jackson (Los Angeles Chargers), guard Shaq Mason (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Kyle Van Noy (Los Angeles Chargers). And there are certainly question marks on the offensive coaching staff with Josh McDaniels now in Las Vegas as Raiders head coach.
Will they improve on offense and/or defense this season? Here are the Patriots’ projected starters tasked to provide an answer to that question.