5. What would the Patriots do without Josh McDaniels?

What we think he’s thinking: This is a tough one. The Patriots could lose Brady and McDaniels in one offseason. The Patriots offensive coordinator is drawing interest from the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and New York Giants.

Because the Patriots’ staff continues to get picked to the bone every offseason, they don’t have a natural replacement on staff. Former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea was previously in line to take over for McDaniels, if he left in previous years. But the Dolphins just fired O’Shea. In one sense, it’s good that he’s available. In another, his firing might complicate the Patriots’ feelings toward giving the job to him. (Though, it seems likely O’Shea could land back on staff, even if he isn’t the coordinator.) Joe Judge, who doubled as the receivers coach and special teams coordinator, would be in the mix. And Belichick might put one of those coaches in the job while choosing not to announce their promotion for the first year, much like he’s doing with Steve Belichick at the defensive coordinator position this year and like he did with Brian Flores in 2018. Regardless, the Patriots will have a tricky offseason if their offensive core (McDaniels and Brady) makes an exit.