Patriots' Last-Minute Guide to 2024 NFL Free Agency
The New England Patriots enter NFL free agency with one major goal already completed.
The Patriots re-signed tight end Hunter Henry to a three-year, $30 million deal on Friday.
New England does not have to worry about losing a pass-catching playmaker and it can now focus on bringing in a top-tier wide receiver.
The AFC East side must load up on offensive skill position talent for whomever the quarterback will be in 2024.
The easy answer to the quarterback problem is to select one with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, whether that be Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye.
The new quarterback must be protected well in his first season in New England and that should lead to some offensive line upgrades in free agency.
Wide Receiver Should Be Top Target
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The Patriots need a No. 1 pass catcher in their offense badly.
The bad news for the franchise is the wide receiver market thinned in recent weeks. Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. received franchise tags, while Mike Evans re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That elevated Calvin Ridley to the top target on most wide receiver shopping lists.
The former Atlanta and Jacksonville wide out produced the second 1,000-yard season of his career with the Jaguars in 2023.
Ridley would be an instant upgrade over anyone on the current Patriots roster and he is an ideal target for a young quarterback to work with.
If the Patriots miss out on Ridley, Gabriel Davis, Tyler Boyd and Marquise Brown are the top options available.
Boyd and Davis have never been No. 1 wide outs in their careers and signing either of them could raise some questions about the Patriots' pass-catching group going into 2024.
Offensive Line Help Needed
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The likely departures of Mike Onwenu and Trent Brown open up two holes on the New England offensive line.
That is concerning for the Patriots because they need help protecting a new quarterback and the offensive line free-agent market is not as robust as previous seasons.
The Patriots could shoot for the big-ticket free agent at offensive tackle, but Tyron Smith could easily return to the Dallas Cowboys.
If the Patriots did not have a quarterback issue, they could have selected Notre Dame's Joe Alt or Penn State's Olu Fashanu at No. 3 to strengthen the interior.
Quarterback has to be the target with that selection, so the Patriots may have to get creative with how they fill those vacancies.
What Happens to the Quarterback Depth Chart?
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New England could completely revamp its quarterback depth chart.
Mac Jones is under contract for the next two seasons, while Bailey Zappe is a restricted free agent after the 2024 season.
Neither player will be the starting quarterback in Week 1. That title will belong to the No. 3 overall pick.
New England could surprise many analysts and chase a veteran starter in free agency, but that seems unlikely given how expensive Kirk Cousins or Baker Mayfield could get.
Zappe would be more trustworthy in a backup role based on his 2023 performance, but the new coaching staff could disregard that and get rid of both he and Jones in favor of a veteran backup and a rookie starter.
Jacoby Brissett and Ryan Tannehill are among the veteran backup options who could be brought in to help develop the No. 3 overall pick.
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