Patriots' Early Report Card for Most Impactful Offseason Decisions

The New England Patriots blended the return of key internal free agents and additions at positions of need in the first week of NFL free agency.

New England found a way to keep tight end Hunter Henry and offensive lineman Mike Onwenu.

The Patriots made some small additions to their offense with Antonio Gibson and K.J. Osborn, but they failed to land the big-play wide receiver they wanted.

The New England needs more work to compete in the AFC East in Jerod Mayo's first season as head coach, but the early wave of signings at least built a foundation for how the 2024 squad will look.

Re-Signed Hunter Henry

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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 07: Tight end Hunter Henry (85) of the New England Patriots catches a touchdown in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 07, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Hunter Henry was one of New England's most impactful offensive players in 2023.

The tight end caught six touchdowns in what was a down season compared to his numbers from previous seasons.

Henry recorded the lowest receiving-yard total of his career, but he still found a way to make an impact on the Patriots offense.

The Patriots brought him back on a three-year deal that could reach $30 million.

It was a smart move by the Patriots to have some consistency among their pass-catching group, as well as have a veteran target across the middle for whomever the new quarterback is in 2024.

The lack of a No. 1 wide receiver signing in free agency made the Henry contract look even more important because the Patriots at least have a strong tight end to rely on.

Grade: B+

Re-Signed Mike Onwenu

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FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 03: New England Patriots offensive lineman Mike Onwenu (71) during a game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers on December 3, 2023, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Mike Onwenu entered free agency as one of the most coveted offensive linemen.

Onwenu's versatility plus the lack of quality starters on the market made him a likely departure from New England.

The Patriots found a way to keep Onwenu on their offensive line with a three-year, $57 million deal.

Onwenu, along with free-agent signing Chukwuma Okorafor, should provide stability across the offensive line.

The Patriots need that to properly protect a likely rookie quarterback under center, or at least that is the expectation for how they plan to use the No. 3 overall pick.

Grade: A

Offensive Depth Moves

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LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 07: Antonio Gibson #24 of the Washington Commanders warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on January 7, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

The Patriots filled in their offensive depth with a few veteran signings.

They landed running back Antonio Gibson, who excels as a pass-catcher, tight end Austin Hooper, wide receiver K.J. Osborn and quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

All of those players are nice veteran pieces to add to a rebuilding squad, but they only serve the depth purpose with stars around them.

New England missed out on the top-tier wide receiver free agents. It may have to get creative in the draft to land one of the top prospects after it selects a quarterback at No. 3.

Brissett is regarded as one of the top backup quarterbacks in the league. He should help bring along whomever the Patriots land at No. 3, but right now, he is the best quarterback on the roster.

The Patriots are at least two moves away from completing their offensive offseason puzzle, and until those transactions happen, they will not have completed all of their offseason goals.

Grade: C