PatsPropaganda

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What is happening at the Tight End, end of the Patriots roster!

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Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Okay you lovely lot, so, with the signing of the tight end Anthony Firkser and the lack of the Patriots drafting any tight endage I thought it was prime time to have a bit of a deep dive and get us all up to date with what we are looking at, at the tight end, end of the Patriots roster.  

The Patriots managed to send Jonnu Smith to Atlanta for a 7th round draft pick in 2023, number 245, which the Patriots in turn used for the corner back Isaiah Bolden. Smith is an athletic tight end who just didn’t fit into the Patriots system for one reason or another. Over the course of two years in New England he played 30 games with a total of 83 targets, 20 carries and 1 touchdown. 

The second signing the Patriots made during that 2021 free agency season was Hunter Henry from the LA Chargers. A bit of an injury history plagued Hunter, but his first season with the Patriots was a productive one and his connection with rookie quarterback Mac Jones clearly evident. Playing 17 games Hunter was targeted 75 times for 9 touchdowns. Unfortunately, with the way the Patriots offence was run in 2022, Hunter wasn’t utilised as much with just 59 targets for 2 touchdowns. 

Predominantly through the 2022 season the Patriots practice squad held the bodies of Matt Sokol and Scotty Washington. 

Washington was picked up by the Patriots in September 2022 after being released from Cincinnati and only played a single game. Ironically his debut was against the Bengals in week 16 after which he was placed on the practice squad injury reserve. 

The pick up of undrafted rookie Johnny Lumpkin out of Louisiana may mean Washington isn’t even headed back to the practice squad in Gillette, but time will tell. A long limbed tight end with good blocking ability and a reasonable nimbleness for his 6’6” size, Lumpkin is definitely a potential for the practice squad and even a future roster spot if he develops well. 

Matt Sokol made a little bit more of an impact than Washington. Spending most of his time on the practice squad, Sokol was elevated for three games during the 2022 regular season. His blocking abilities were leaned upon against the Lions week 5, the Dolphins week 17 and the Bills week 18. 

An undrafted rookie in 2019 Sokol has bounced around more practice squads than I have Patriots apparel. Starting his career with the LA Chargers, Sokol hopped on and off their practice squad until he headed to Detroit. After a small stint there, he headed back to LA and played 2 games before shipping off to Jacksonville. With a small detour back to Detroit, Matt found his place in New England in November 2022. Definitely a candidate for the 2023 practice squad but this traveller could just as easily be heading to another location.

Now, you all know about the signing of Mike Gesicki and I KNOW you know how excited I am to see him in a Patriots uniform, the season simply cannot come quick enough for me! 

An athletic tight end, Gesicki uses his length well, and at 6’6” he definitely has plenty! The change in coaching staff at Miami, and the incoming of some excellent receivers saw Gesicki’s usage on the Dolphins take a slide, and I for one couldn’t be happier. A great deep threat with YAC abilities, Gesicki has the height and athletic ability to win contested catches, and I predict him dominating the end zone for New England. (Check out episode 65 of A Clare Perspective, a Patriots podcast for a particular sandwich bet I have with my lovely assistant on this.)

Finally, the most recent signing, the aforementioned Anthony Firkser. And whilst I can’t seem to pronounce Firkser very well, this signing has given me a little fizzle of interest!

Firkser has been in the NFL for five seasons, playing four for the Titans and the 2022 season for the Atlanta Falcons. His career stats come in at 69 games played, 115 receptions, 1207 yards and 5 touchdowns.

At 28, this 6 foot 2, 241 pound tight end also has the ability to play fullback which is a position the Patriots may not utilise under Bill O’Brien, but didn’t even have the option to, prior to the signing. So, this may be that blocking, TE3!

So there you have it folks, my tight end wrap up! I hope you enjoyed reading it, and have a fabulous holiday weekend too!

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Day 2 Recap of the 2023 NFL Draft

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(Photo: David Eulitt / Getty Images)

Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books and the Patriots added two more rookies to their class. Because the amount of players taken in the night has doubled, I’ll do a high-level rundown of what occurred last night, mainly focusing on hopeful Patriots picks, and the players who Bill actually drafted.

The night started at pick 32 with a cool, full-circle moment, as CB Joey Porter Jr was drafted by the Steelers, following in his father, Joey Sr’s footsteps who was also drafted by Pittsburgh in 1999.

With pick 33, the Titans traded up to take QB Will Levis, whose fall from a top-10 projection, to first-round obscurity made headlines yesterday. From a Patriots perspective on this pick, there were multiple reports saying the Patriots had no interest in taking Will Levis.

Then came the Great Tight End run that doesn’t involve the Pats (Sorry Clare!) – The Lions, who’ve had a weird draft so far, took Sam LaPorta, whilst Michael Mayer joined old friend Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas, with picks 34 & 35 retrospectively.

[Read more…] about Day 2 Recap of the 2023 NFL Draft

Round One recap of the 2023 NFL Draft

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There you have it you lovely lot, day one of the 2023 NFL draft is complete! 

I truly hope you have had more sleep than I. I watched until the final pick, as just between you and me, I needed to know where Michael Mayer went, and he hasn’t yet! 

Now, it does feel like the draft sort of began at the number two pick, the Texans. Most of NFL Nation was sure the Carolina Panthers were taking Bryce Young of Alabama. I don’t know about you, but they should have just submitted the pick three weeks ago like they would in the 1984 draft or something, but they were on the clock and made their selection. 

The Texans did the thing that they probably should have done, and scooped up a quarterback in C.J. Stroud. Then they sent the 12th overall pick with the number 33 pick (a first and third in the 2024 draft too) to receive pick 105, and the third overall pick to select linebacker Will Anderson Jnr out of Alabama. 

Another quarterback off the board, Anthony Richardson was selected by the Colts. Followed by another trade with the Seahawks and Broncos. Seattle selected, possibly the top cornerback of this draft, Devon Witherspoon. 

Arizona shifted around the board trading with Detroit, and the Cardinals selected the Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. 

Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson was taken by the Las Vegas Raiders, and then the first running back was picked at 8! Bijan Robinson goes to the Atlanta Falcons. 

As great as the running back is, and he really is, I was kind of relieved that the Falcons scooped up Robinson, I am not sure if Bill Belichick could have passed by the elite running back talent, but I think a lot of us really wanted him too!

Super Bowl runners up the Philadelphia Eagles moved up to nab the defensive end out of Georgia, Jalen Carter. 

The Bears mixed it up with trades and took offensive tackle Darnell Wright. Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee Titans picked one of my favourites at 11 in Peter Skoronski the OT from Northwestern. 

More trades than you could have coffee so late at night and the Lions selected Jahmyr Gibbs the running back at 12. Green Bay drafted Iowa defensive end, edge guy, Luke Van Ness and then the Steelers make THAT trade with New England and hopped up to the 14th pick. 

Patriots fans groaned and held their breath as the Steelers had their choice of talent and chose my favourite OT guy in Broderick Jones. This possibly resulted in the Jets being pipped for their guy, we will never truly know, and the Jets selected defensive end Will McDonald out of Iowa State. 

Washington picked cornerback Emmanuel Forbes at 16 and then… the Patriots had a selection. 

They didn’t trade, they stuck and they picked up a dynamic cornerback that you will hear plenty about today! Yes folks, the Patriots selected Christian Gonzalez out of Oregon. 

The Lions got to pick again and took my favourite line backer Jack Campbell, followed by Tampa Bay selecting defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and then the Seahawks started the run on wide receivers taking Jaxon Smith-Njigba at 20. 

22nd, but technically taken 21st because of those naughty Dolphins, was Quentin Johnston, selected by the LA Chargers. 

Hearts became broken in New England as Zay Flowers from Boston College was picked by the Ravens, and rounding out the stint of wide receiver selections was Jordan Addison who was taken by the Vikings. 

The Giants got antsy and moved up in a trade with the Jaguars to select corner back Deonte Banks from Maryland, then the Bills moved to take one of the top tight ends Dalton Kincaid of Utah. 

To those of you that reached out to ask my opinion on this selection, firstly thank you! Secondly, I wasn’t happy. Obviously I want all the good tight ends to go to the Patriots, but seriously now, did he really have to go to the Bills?! Not exactly looking forward to the Patriots having to face that top talent at least twice a season. 

The Cowboys selected the defensive tackle from Michigan Mazi Smith, followed by the Jacksonville Jags finally selecting, where they took Anton Harrison from Oklahoma. 

Myles Murphy went to the Bengals. New Orleans selected defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. The Eagles picked up another mammoth player from Georgia, and drafted Nolan Smith and, finally the evening rounded out with Felix Anudike-Uzomah of Kansas State going to the Kansas City Chiefs!

So there you have it folks, lots of speculation confirmed, or blown out of the water, and so much talent left “on the board” for tonight! I do hope the Patriots select some of those tight ends I am wanting so much but hey, that’s what it is to be a fan right?

On that note, keep smiling you lovely lot, and Go Pats!

The Pats Propaganda Draft Off!

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It’s that crazy time of year again! Big boards, mock drafts, draft stock movements, all to be finalised in just over a week!

Yes, you lovely lot, soon we will be put out of our misery and we will know who the Patriots take 14th overall… if they do of course. Until then, mock drafts are a-flyin’, player drafts stocks are risin’ and a-fallin’ and draft crushes are formin’!

And so to add to the mania, the fantabulous Tom Shaw-Mellors and myself have done… drum roll please… a mock draft off!

The first ever, (possibly the last, it depends how it goes) Pats Propaganda draft off. And so, not only will you get to see how Tom and I draft, but you will also be able to vote, on Twitter for your favourite mock draft!!

Tom’s draft selection (@ShawMellors)

Ok, so these four picks are players that I would be happy with if the Patriots chose them in the upcoming draft.

Round 1 – (14) – WR Zay Flowers (Boston College)

Zay Flowers could be the answer for the Pats. I saw Zay play for BC in 2021 during a trip to Boston and he was a cut above anyone else on the field in terms of athleticism and IQ as a wideout.

There has been a lot of hype around him due to his local connections at BC, and I also nod that his college career wasn’t plated at the highest level, still, I think he could be a star in this league and would gladly take him at 14.

Round 2 – (46) – CB Julius Brents (Kansas State)

Back-to-back positions of need are being filled in my draft-off selections here!

He has everything I like in a corner, good size at 6″3 which immediately makes me think of all of those mismatches poor Marcus and Jack Jones had last season.

Height is a big factor (reminds me a bit of Tariq Woolen, who I wanted last year) – Brents also has decent speed and would be a solid addition, and perhaps a BB guy too with his build.

Brents also had a decent outing at the Senior Bowl, leading me to think he could follow in the footsteps of a number of current Patriots who took part in that competition. (Cole Strange (2022), Mac Jones (2021), Rhamondre Stevenson (2021), Kyle Dugger (2020)

Round 3 – (76) – TE Tucker Kraft (South Dakota State)

This one’s for your Clare!

It’s been a long time since a Patriots TE draftee actually materialized into anything exciting, but aside from his namesake to our beloved owner, Tucker Kraft could be that man!

Has the size at 6″5/250 lbs to really lend assistance in the run game, he’s also a physical specimen with strong athletic testing performances at the combine.

Alongside Gesicki and Hunter Henry, Kraft would make a healthy addition to the offensive room under Billy O.

Round 4 – (107) – CB Riley Moss (Iowa)

Shoutout to Evan Lazar and Mike Dussault from http://Patriots.com for bringing me around on this final pick.

After watching some of Moss’ tape, I can see why they both are really high on him to be the fourth player added to the Patriots’ 2023 draft class.

At 6″1 he has decent size and has been a strong tackler during his collegiate career which spanned 2,606 snaps over five seasons (per PFF).

I agree that Moss probably wouldn’t come in and settle as an out-and-out traditional CB, perhaps with his size he could transition to safety, but it just screams a cliche Bill Belichick pick.

Clare’s draft selection (@clazzyclare)

I fell down the rabbit hole of mock drafts for almost a day for this. The problem is, I was never quite sure of which position I really wanted to prioritise as there are several important ones this year, and then a random guy would fall and be too good to miss! Not to mention, how it’s ever so annoying when the guys you want keep going just ahead of your pick (am I right?!). But to that end, curtesy of the PFF draft simulator, I produced a draft I think I would be happy with if the Patriots copied it. Whilst I know it’s not going to give everyone tingles, I put on my GM cap and did (to the best of my ability!) what I thought would be best for the team not only for 2023 but going forward too. I may have overdrafted a little, taken a guy a little earlier than he is expected to go, but it depends upon what you read. When I did the simulator it changed significantly, so I have been as realistic as possible. Here goes!

Round 1 – (14) – T Broderick Jones (Georgia)

At this pick I was increasingly torn as to which position to take, but I just couldn’t ignore the high end offensive line guys. To be honest Jones is an easy switch out for me with Peter Skoronski of Northwestern, both are early to mid first rounders off the board and for me one or the other would be awesome. I chose Jones over Skoronski just because of the edge he seems to have. To be honest there isn’t much in it, with Jones measuring at 6’5″ and 311, and Skoronski 6’4″ and 313. Even though he is lacking in experience, Jones threw a coach out of the club at a skill drill in the combine, and has sheer explosiveness I would love to see on the Patriots offensive line.

Round 2 – (46) – TE Sam Laporta (Iowa)

I couldn’t help myself, the talent in the tight end class is so delicious I had to draft one of the higher class guys. By 46 the top wide receivers are long gone so I decided to utilise the offensive weapon skill set over on my favourite position. LaPorta has been one of my favourites for a while now and whilst he didn’t hold the official title of “draft crush” he came darn close. LaPorta is a solid framed, 6’ 3.5” versatile pass catcher with a powerful looking lower body. Electric after the catch LaPorta has many strengths but there is a little work to be done with his contested catches. Definitely a good choice for the Patriots as a rookie starter behind two experienced tight ends in Henry and Gesicki, and stocking the cupboard for a TE1 of the future.

Round 3 – (76) – CB Riley Moss (Iowa)

Cornerback is definitely a position that I hope the Patriots address this draft and, whilst it’s not possible to take the top tackle, wide receiver AND cornerback, I did what I could with the board that I was dealt. After I did my mock I read Tom’s and realised he has also taken Moss but with the 107 pick, so I may have played it a little safe and selected the cornerback I wanted, but some mocks have him going in round three and that’s when I scooped him up. Moss is productive, experienced and an elite athlete with great coverage instincts, worth the 76th selection in my humble opinion.

Round 4 – (107) – TE Luke Schoonmaker (Michigan)

I had to do it, all my other positional preferences had gone by 107 and so I had to grab some more future tight endage. A lovely blend of size, athleticism and blocking ability Schoonmaker is a tall, lean built, inline Y tight end with the room to add weight. He is good in the run game, and whilst not necessarily dynamic, he shouldn’t be overlooked as playmaker.

Don’t forget to chose your favourite draft selection in the Pats Propaganda twitter poll!

Draft Prospects: Tight End

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This year the wide receiver depth seems a lot less than the previous few years. Just a couple of guys projected to go in the first round, however, as you are probably aware the one skill position that seems to have depth, the best in a decade in fact, is the tight end one. It really is a serious, athletic filled, draft class this year. 

You lovely lot didn’t actually think there was going to be a draft with so many tight ends, and I wasn’t going to cover it?!? Don’t worry, I’m just going to give you a little taste of what there is because I know you aren’t all quite as enthusiastic as I am. But there are some (maybe!) later round tight ends that the Patriots might target to fill the cupboard for the future.

Generally, first round tight ends haven’t worked out quite to the expected level. The most recent one is Kyle Pitts, selected fourth overall in the 2021 NFL draft. Now, I fully appreciate he has talent and athletic ability but he didn’t catch my eye for some reason and he hasn’t quite performed to what was expected from those that championed him.

Thus, many Patriots fans are rather against that first round selection for a tight end, and that’s fully understandable. Even I, a tight end enthusiast, is swaying towards a later round kinda guy. For me the top need is tackle, tackle, tackle, oh and a large cornerback too! Besides, how can I judge when I am tainted with superstition to not take a wide receiver in the first round, following a certain 2019 first round draft selection, even if it was the 32nd pick. 

Anyways, moving along!

Michael Mayer of Notre Dame is my draft crush but deep down I know he won’t be a Patriot. Dalton Kincaid and even Darnell Washington may be a little “too rich”, but with such a cacophony of athleticism, later round selections could still have some serious promise in a position that really is a difficult one to play in this sport today.  

With players draft stocks moving up and down, particularly following the combine and pro days and also the team visits, it is becoming increasingly tricky to assess the round in which a guy may go. But, to that end I have selected a few names that may be possibly a little more realistic for the Patriots. 

Sam LaPorta is a solid framed, 6’ 3.5” versatile pass catcher with a powerful looking lower body out of Iowa. 

Luke Schoonmaker, is a name I am hearing more and more, which worries me as he may become too much in demand for the Patriots! From Michigan, a tall, lean built, inline Y tight end with the room to add weight, Schoonmaker is good in the run game and whilst not necessarily dynamic, he shouldn’t be overlooked as playmaker.

Tucker Kraft of South Dakota State may not be unfamiliar to you either. The surname is a big one in New England, and this 6’ 5” combination tight end has good body skills and acceleration. Clocking up a 7.08 second three cone drill, this big guy is smooth. 

Brendon Strange, Penn State’s own, is perhaps more of a developmental player than those mentioned above. A great blocker on the outside, good hands and his sledge work at the combine warranted a nice job in the Clazzy Clare tightendage notebook! Plenty of strengths when it comes to blocking and the run game, Strange has a few problems with drops, his pass catching and route running need sharpening up. A solid 6’ 4” good tight end that would benefit from a year of developmental time behind say two starter veteran tight ends?

Whichever type of tight end takes your fancy, this draft class is almost dripping with them, I just hope the Patriots pick one!

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The Combine Cometh!

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from the notebook of Clare “Clazzy Clare” Cooper

Firstly, I just want to give a big thank you to everyone who reads my work and supports Pats Propaganda. I have been writing for this fabulous site for over two years now, two years on Tuesday 7th March, and I am so blessed to be able to do so. So, a huge thank you to YOU who is reading this, as well as my awesome colleague (and buddy) Tom Shaw-Mellors, and the founder and chief Mike Dussault. I appreciate you all!

And so, another combine has wrapped up, pro days on the horizon, but many of us are still chewing over the tape, reading the statistics, and checking the interwebs for highlight reels in order to get our draft prospect fix. 

Now, I know many may say that the combine is just a media event and the teams have no real value to it, and whilst that may be somewhat true, there is still plenty to champion, especially as a fan for the event that is held near St Elmo’s with its fabulous shrimp cocktail (as I have been told, I am yet to sample personally). 

The interviews and medicals are something that I have heard have value for the teams, and this makes complete sense, and the interviews are what the sports media roll up to Indianapolis to indulge in. 

But, the 50 hours of “on field” coverage is what the fans get when they turn on their televisions, and whilst that’s a lot for a small brain like mine to contend with, it is great to be able to find the player classes that you are most interested in, and spend some time doing that eyeball testing. 

I fully appreciate that the combine is only a sample of what these players can do, but for someone who doesn’t watch much college football, and has never been shy in admitting that I don’t, mostly for access reasons, having the opportunity to see these players “in the flesh” is definitely of an advantage. 

You can make reasonable assessments from an individual’s performance, and you can also make those “gut feeling” choices that may come back and severely bite you in the behind when the guys absolutely sucks, but hey that’s half the fun… Right?

I am rarely shy in admitting my draft crush (I am shy generally, but not when it comes to that!) and if you are a regular reader or listener of my work, you will be able to confirm as such. To me, a draft crush is that “gut feeling” one, not necessarily the sensible one, or the one that fits your team the best, it’s the one that you’re just like “Oh I want that guy!!”. 

It will not surprise you that my draft crushes are pretty much always tight ends, what can I say folks, I like to live up to the nicknames I have been given. 

However, the Patriots have significant needs, and the two that most of Patriots Nation agree with are offensive tackle and cornerback. 

The only thing is… free agency happens before the draft, and there appear to be a few rather decent names suddenly potentially available. Does that mean that with the number one pick in the 2023 NFL draft the Patriots may not need to take a tackle? 

Whilst there is a potential for that, and I am so looking forward to bringing you a bit of free agency fun soon, lack of depth at that position really hindered the Patriots in 2022, and so, even if it isn’t number 14, I am pretty darn certain we will be hearing “and the Patriots pick *insert name and collage* offensive tackle”. 

But to that end, I thought I’d give you a sneaky peak at the names of some of the top offensive tackle draft prospects, and how they faired at the combine, should you so fancy.

First off is the one who seems to have plenty of controversy around him, because of… an inch. Yes folks, Peter Skoronski has 32 1/4 inch arms which is, reportedly, short for a tackle. However, he is an exceptional player who lined up as a left tackle for three years at Northwestern. Rashawn Slater, who plays left tackle for the LA Chargers, has been proving this size “requirement” wrong for a season. And with the wealth of experience Skoronski has, it does feel a little crazy to miss on a proven quality player because of, about this ___________ much. 

For the sake of stats, I can advise the NFL has Skoronski running a 5.16 seconds 40 yard dash, bench press of 30 reps, a 34.5 inch vertical jump and a 7.8 second three cone drill. And from the notebook of one Clare “Clazzy Clare” Cooper, I can confirm: nice strong base, big guy, nice footwork on the fold block, versatile, NICE.

The next two prospects are both much larger athletes, but are a lot lighter on experience than Skoronski. 

Paris Johnson Jr of Ohio State comes in at 2 inches taller and with arms almost 4 inches longer, but with only one year experience at left tackle. Johnson didn’t undertake many of the drills at the combine, bench pressing 29 reps is pretty much all that I can report. 

Broderick Jones from Georgia drops size wise in between Skoronski and Johnson with 34 3/4 inch arms. His NFL combine results were a 4.97 seconds 40 yard dash (!) and a 30 inch vertical jump. The “Clazzy Clare” note book can confirm: Wave drill: wide base, legs wide – athletic – nice!, good feet, good athleticism. And my personal favourite: DISPATCHED the coach wearing the pad in the screen drill, threw that guy outta the club!

So there you have it you lovely lot, a sneaky glance at the combine! Keep your eyes on us for more content, and also listen out for a special episode of A Clare Perspective, a Patriots podcast that delves into a few behind-the-scenes bits of the NFL combine, coming soon!

A five-step New England Patriots 2023 offseason plan

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 26: during the second half of a preseason game between the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium on August 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada (Photo by Chris Unger)

Even though the Pats didn’t manage to make it through to the playoffs this year, there are plenty of Super Bowl betting promotions to take your mind off of it until Belichick can get New England back to their winning ways. Coming off an 8-9 season, it’s a third-straight year around .500 with just one trip to the playoffs for New England. With a clearly defined power structure in the AFC becoming more and more defined during the playoffs, the Pats must figure out a way to first crack the bottom three playoff spots, which feature the Chargers, Dolphins and Ravens, before then tackling the next group, the AFC’s final four, Kansas City, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Jacksonville.

Here are five quick steps on how the Patriots should approach the offseason to re-emerge in the AFC.

  1. Revamp the attack: With reports that the team will begin meeting with offensive coordinator candidates this week, it seems the Patriots are already focused on taking the most important step, installing a better offensive approach from a coaching and schematic standpoint. Many signs point to Bill O’Brien as being the best candidate given his experience in New England and some familiarity with Mac Jones. Regardless if it’s O’Brien or someone else, the team needs someone like Josh McDaniels to get their offense humming at a high level.
  2. Reinforce Protection: With Isaiah Wynn due to hit free agency, the Patriots have at least one starting-level need at tackle and might even need two as Trent Brown enters the final year of his deal. The consistency from the tackle spots was spotty at best in 2022 and it’s a critical position of long-term stability. If the team can have confidence in their edge protectors the whole offense should benefit.
  3. Repeat weapons search: Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor are free agents so the team will also have some turnover at receiver position, another spot where a key addition or two could help elevate the attack. Can Tyquan Thornton take another step forward and be a consistent threat? DeVante Parker had quite a few flashes late in the year and is a player to build around, as the team should be aggressive in the draft to continue stacking speedy talent.
  4. Real cover corner: Injuries hammered the Patriots cornerback depth this season, by the end they were on fumes, but that only highlights the need to restock the position as Jonathan Jones heads for free agency. The team has lacked a true number-one corner since Stephon Gilmore’s departure and the effects against the top receivers in the league have been obvious. Finding another number-one corner, whether in free agency or with a first-round pick seems like one of the most critical additions to the defense that needs to happen in the spring of 2023.
  5. New leadership: With the potential retirements of Matthew Slater and Devin McCourty, the team could have significant role to fill on the field on defense and special teams, as well as inside the locker room, where the duo has been critically important with their experience and leadership. Finding a new identity post Slater and McCourty figures to be a significant storyline this season as the team continues to find themselves further away from their last Super Bowl title. Free safety could be a sneaky big need, while the team already found a gem on special teams in Brenden Schooler.