New England Patriots: Building a Blueprint to Return to Super Bowl 2013

The New England Patriots fell just short of winning Super Bowl XLVI last night in Indianapolis. While the disappointment from that loss will linger for some time, the franchise has to pick itself up and refocus quickly, as the NFL draft and impending free agency of several key players will soon be upon it.

It's clear that the Patriots have some work to do, especially on defense. But adding a few pieces and re-signing a few guys could have New England set up well for another run to the Super Bowl next season.

New England has two picks near the end of the first-round (Nos. 27 and 31) and two picks in the second-round. If they don't trade one away to stockpile future picks, they could address a serious need early on. The Patriots must improve their secondary and defensive front with those selections. 

In my most recent mock draft, I have New England selecting LSU defensive lineman Michael Brockers at No. 27, and Clemson outside linebacker Andre Branch at No. 31. As we saw last night, the Patriots need more push up front, and adding Brockers and Branch would go a long way towards shoring up the front seven.

Cornerback Ras-I Dowling's return to full health next season should have a similar effect to a free agent signing. Sterling Moore played well in the Super Bowl, but has been shaky at times. If he can continue to develop, the Patriots may be able to get away with selecting a corner later in the draft in hopes of developing him with their current group. Fellow corner Kyle Arrington battled injuries but still managed to snag seven interceptions. His biggest weakness is consistency. Again, he has to continue to develop.

Apparently, New England has decided to shift Devin McCourty to safety. That may not be a permanent move, but he's another guy who needs to round out his game if the team's defense is hoping to improve from the dismal numbers it put up this season.

The Patriots need to bring several free agents back into the fold as quickly as possible. Running backs Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis are unrestricted free agents, and while Faulk is almost certainly done, New England may want to bring back Green-Ellis. Rookie Stevan Ridley looked shaky at times, and had some issues with fumbling that need to be addressed. Green-Ellis would at least give them someone to lean on until Ridley progresses.

I'm assuming receiver Wes Welker will be back, simply because both parties want to work out a deal. Obviously, he must return or the offense will certainly take a step back. 

Long-time center Dan Koppen has battled injuries and is set to hit the open market, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up back in New England. 

The other spot the Patriots need to address is the No. 2 receiver spot. I'm sure all of New England loves Deion Branch for of what he's done for the franchise over the years, but he's lost a step, and clearly isn't a suitable second wide-out for Brady. Whether via free agency or the draft, the Patriots must grab a guy to fill that spot.

The New England team that lost Super Bowl XLVI is not one that should be written off. The Patriots are a great organization with a solid foundation already in place. With a few key upgrades, they can be in the mix to return to the big game next season.