Patriots' Top Players to Avoid in 2024 NFL Free Agency

The New England Patriots must spend their abundance of salary cap space wisely during the NFL offseason.

New England currently has $69 million in cap space, per Spotrac, and a majority of that money should be spent on the offense.

If the Patriots are set on selecting a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick, the free agency spending should focus on surrounding that player with the best possible talent.

New England attempted to do that a few offseasons ago, but it failed in the long term with the likes of Kendrick Bourne and Hunter Henry.

The Patriots need to be more selective with their free-agent choices ahead of Jerod Mayo's first year as head coach. That could lead to the avoidance of more free agents.

Marquise Brown

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 26: Marquise Brown #2 of the Arizona Cardinals runs a route during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

Marquise Brown is not the wide receiver the Patriots want to build their offense around.

Brown experienced a production drop off since the lone 1,000-yard campaign of his career in 2021.

The fifth-year wide out managed just 574 receiving yards and four touchdowns with the Arizona Cardinals last season.

The most concerning statistic is the 51 catches he had on 101 targets.

The Patriots can't risk signing a wide receiver who barely caught 50 percent of his targets last season.

Brown could end up as a nice fit somewhere, but the production decline and the concerning 2023 numbers are enough to turn the Patriots in another direction.

Tyler Boyd

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 31: Tyler Boyd #83 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs a route during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

The Patriots need a clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver, not someone who can fill a supporting role.

Tyler Boyd was the No. 3 option inside the Cincinnati Bengals offseason for the last few years. He could be looking for an opportunity to be the No. 1 guy somewhere.

The Patriots are not in a position to sign someone of Boyd's caliber to be the No. 1 wide out.

They need someone like Boyd's Cincinnati teammate, Tee Higgins, to lead the wide receiver room that currently features JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton and Demario Douglas.

New England should shoot its shot with Higgins or Calvin Ridley, and if that fails, it might consider drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 3 overall.

What it can't do is bank on lifetime No. 2 or No. 3 wide receivers to suddenly be the No. 1 target. That did not work in the last wave of free-agent signings for the Patriots and contributed to their current position.

Austin Hooper

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 07: Tight end Austin Hooper #81 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs for a first down against cornerback Pat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos after a catch in the fourth quarter of their game at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 27-14. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Patriots should attempt to sign the best tight ends on the market, not settle for a mid-tier free agent like Austin Hooper.

Hooper has not recorded over 500 receiving yards in each of his last four seasons. He failed to score a touchdown in 2023 with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Hooper's production decline should keep the Patriots far away from him as they attempt to revamp the offense.

Re-signing Hunter Henry could be an option for New England, but if that does not happen, it should look to Dalton Schultz or Noah Fant.

A reliable across-the-middle target would do wonders for the development of the new starting quarterback.