3 Biggest Free Agent Decisions for Patriots' GM and Coach in 2024 Offseason

The New England Patriots are already a step ahead of every other team that parted ways with its head coach after the 2023 NFL regular season.

Linebackers coach Jerod Mayo will replace head coach Bill Belichick, and with him in place, the Patriots can work toward building their 2024 roster.

New England has a handful of key players set to become free agents. The retention of a few of those players will be vital to the team's success in Mayo's first season in charge.

A lot of the success will come down to the quarterback decision, which will likely happen with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Before that decision is made, the Patriots need to put together the best roster possible to protect a young quarterback.

Michael Onwenu

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PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 07: Mike Onwenu #71 of the New England Patriots lines up during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 7, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Michael Onwenu should be the top priority among the offensive free agents.

The 26-year-old turned into one of the better interior offensive linemen in the NFL, and his presence will be vital to protecting whomever is at quarterback next season.

Onwenu should be the priority at offensive line over tackle Trent Brown, who may be replaced by a younger option in the offseason.

The Patriots could use the No. 3 pick on Notre Dame's Joe Alt or Penn State's Olu Fashanu if they do not believe the right quarterback is there for them.

Even if the Pats do not pick a quarterback at No. 3, they need the interior to be fortified in order for the quarterback to function in pocket in 2024.

Myles Bryant

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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 31: Myles Bryant #27 of the New England Patriots against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Highmark Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won 27-21. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)

The Patriots would also love to keep some stability in the secondary.

Myles Bryant is one of two defensive backs who should be a priority when free agency opens.

Bryant produced career bests in tackles, tackles for loss and passes defended in 2023.

The fourth-year player should generate a good amount of interest from across the league, but the Patriots should do their best to keep him in place.

The defense may be the unit New England relies on early in the 2024 season to pick up wins, especially with a new quarterback likely in the fold.

The returns of Bryant and safety Kyle Dugger would be massive boosts to a unit that could be kept together by the familiarity with Mayo's coaching.

Kyle Dugger

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 29: Kyle Dugger #23 of the New England Patriots celebrates during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Dugger also rattled off a bunch of career-best totals in 2023.

The safety eclipsed the 100-tackle mark for the first time in his four-year tenure. He also recorded six tackles for loss and five quarterback hits.

Dugger has become a vital piece of the Patriots secondary, and if Bryant can't be retained, the safety at least has to be brought back.

The Patriots have $75 million in salary cap space to work with this offseason, per Spotrac, but some of that cash has to be made on offensive improvements.

Hunter Henry, Kendrick Bourne and others are probably leaving, so the front office has to invest some of that money in reliable pass-catchers for whomever the quarterback is.

Not all of the salary cap space can be spent on defensive players, but if the Pats can at least retain one of Bryant or Dugger, it would be viewed as a success on that side of the ball.