Offseason Checklist for the New England Patriots in 2015

"We're looking forward to next year now. Do the things we gotta do to try to have a back-to-back. That's the objective. Back-to-back."—team chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, per CSNNE.com's Phil Perry.

It didn’t take long for the euphoria of a fourth Super Bowl championship to wear off in New England. Shortly after the Patriots soaked in a celebratory parade, Kraft and the players already have their minds on replicating 2014’s success.

The offseason is already underway, as the Patriots signed 12 players to future contracts. They all might be long shots to make the team, but they represent New England’s first offseason moves.

Whether one becomes the next unexpected Super Bowl hero, like cornerback Malcolm Butler, we will have to wait and see. The signings are the first of many decisions New England will make regarding starters, valuable reserves and upgrades.

The pursuit of one for the thumb has already begun:

Keep the Secondary Intact

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Bill Belichick (l) wants to hold on to Darrelle Revis for a long time.

It's not the Seattle Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom,” but the Patriots’ “We Don’t Need a Nickname” secondary can lay claim to being one of best defensive backfields in the NFL in 2014. Free-agent acquisition cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner and safety Patrick Chung were starters from Day 1 and gave New England its best secondary in years.

The secondary could be at least as good in 2015, but it would be costly. Safety Devin McCourty is one of the best at his position. Now that he played out his rookie contract, it’s time for McCourty to cash in. Re-signing him is a no-brainer, and he might give the Patriots a hometown discount if both sides can come to an agreement before free agency begins. If not, there’s always the franchise tag, though that tactic sometimes creates animosity.

Revis might not be as giving. The Patriots won't want to pay Revis the second year of his deal because the cap hit would be $25 million. Agreeing on a long-term deal appears to be New England’s priority, but Revis always wanted top dollar in the past.

Maybe fulfilling his dream of becoming a champion and the opportunity to repeat are worth more to Revis than being the highest-paid corner in the league. Just don’t expect Revis to concede much.

Fortify the Defensive Line

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Wilfork expects to be back. But who will be back with him?

According to the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork doesn’t plan on going anywhere. But two of his teammates might move on. Defensive linemen Sealver Siliga and Alan Branch were productive members of the rotation. But both are free agents and could draw interest on the open market as value additions.

And while big, run-stuffing defensive tackles can have long shelf lives in the NFL, Wilfork is 33 years old, and the Patriots should be concerned about finding his replacement.

A team can’t have enough pass-rushers either. New England had 40 sacks, but 12 came from the linebacker position, 16 if including Akeem Ayers. Ayers has the versatility to play defensive end, so he could be part of the solution if the Patriots-re-sign the midseason addition.

Re-Sign Stephen Gostkowski

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Gostkowski was perfect at home in 2014.

The Patriots' all-time leading scorer had his third Pro Bowl season after connecting on a career-high 94.6 percent of his attempts in 2014.

According to Patriots.com, Gostkowski hasn’t missed his last 36 attempts at Gillette Stadium and entered the 2014 season perfect in his last 24 fourth-quarter attempts, cementing his reputation as a clutch performer despite the lack of a signature kick in his career. He’s 450-of-451 on extra points in his career.

While not beloved like “Automatic” Adam Vinatieri was during his New England years, Gostkowski has become like an offensive lineman: If anyone is talking about Gostkowski, then something bad happened—but not if the Patriots are announcing a new deal for Gostkowski.

Shuffle the Offensive Line

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The Patriots O-line limited Seattle's vaunted pass rush to just one sack.

Chemistry made all the difference for the offensive line in 2014. The quintet synced when New England inserted rookie center Bryan Stork and right guard Ryan Wendell into the starting lineup and Dan Connolly slid from center to left guard against the Cincinnati Bengals. After allowing 10 sacks through four games (2.5 per game), the O-line surrendered 16 from Week 5 through 17 (1.3).

But New England’s early experiment indicates a desire to get younger. The Patriots drafted three linemen in 2014. They traded 32-year-old guard Logan Mankins. Marcus Cannon, Jordan Devey and Cameron Fleming all had their shots at a starting job.

Connolly will be 33 years old by the season opener, and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer turns 31 in July. Meanwhile, Wendell is in his prime at 28, and 26-year-old left tackle Nate Solder should be challenged as well.

These decisions are not just about protecting Tom Brady. The run game dropped from ninth in the league in 2013 (129.1 yards per game) to 17th in 2014 (107.9). The Patriots must be able to run the ball against teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks, not just against the Indianapolis Colts.

Open up the competition, and let the best unit win.

Re-Stock the Backfield

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Blount is nearly unstoppable against the Colts, rushing for 314 yards and seven scores in two playoff games.

The Patriots and LeGarrette Blount are so happy that the Pittsburgh Steelers released the veteran running back. A little more than a month earlier New England placed running back Stevan Ridley on injured reserve after Ridley tore his ACL against the Buffalo Bills.

In need of a workhorse, New England happily picked Blount up. Less than three months later, Blount is passing the Lombardi Trophy among himself and Shane Vereen, Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden, James Develin and James White.

But will Vereen be around in 2015 to share the duties? It's hard to imagine New England letting Vereen walk after his best season as a pro. New England will try to re-sign Vereen to a team-friendly deal but have backup plans in either Bolden or White if Vereen finds riches elsewhere.

It could be the end of Ridley in Patriots blue and silver, though. He probably has to sign a one-year deal to prove his health and ability no matter where he signs. With Blount and Gray under contract through 2016, New England can find cheap depth through the draft or sign a rookie free agent.

Find a Deep Threat

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Though Amendola has played well of late, he hasn't played up to the value of his contract.

Clearly the passing game works just fine, evidenced by the 328 yards and four touchdowns against the best pass defense in the league in Super Bowl XLIX. So finding an outside receiver able to stretch defenses vertically is a luxury. That doesn’t mean the Patriots wouldn’t want one.

So far 2013 draft picks Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce have been disappointments for different reasons—Dobson’s health and Boyce’s comprehension. Brian Tyms, with a 43-yard touchdown reception under his belt, would be welcomed back if re-signed economically.

A roster slot could open if New England decides to cut wide receiver Danny Amendola. If they wait until after June first, the Patriots could save around $4.5 million on their cap. That would be a golden opportunity just waiting for Dobson, Boyce, Tyms or somebody else (Percy Harvin if released by the New York Jets?) to take advantage of.

Contract details taken from www.Spotrac.com. Questions? Comments? Send to [e-mail].