Ranking New England Patriots' Best Remaining Free-Agency Options

A lot has changed for the New England Patriots in a very short time.

In 2014, the defensive cornerstones were cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner; in 2015, someone else will have to step up and assume that mantle.

But their offseason is far from finished, and there are still some big names left on the market who could theoretically be the next face of the defense. 

Despite all the focus on defensive backs, the Patriots have other needs to fill. Despite an aggressive approach in the first wave of free agency in 2014, the Patriots typically wait until the second wave to make their moves on veterans who have been passed on by other teams.

Here's a look at some of the players the Patriots could still be targeting.

5: Jermaine Gresham

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The Patriots have already addressed their lack of depth at tight end by signing former Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler, but even with three solid options on the depth chart, the Patriots could still go for more.

Signing former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham would give the Patriots more depth if they wish to go back to a two-tight end offense like they ran from 2010-2012. Gresham has been visiting with the Oakland Raiders for much of the first week of free agency, but Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that "nothing is imminent" between the two sides.

The 6'5", 260-pound former first-round pick was thrown 17 passes in the red zone from 2013-2014, caught 13 of them and turned eight of them into touchdowns. 

Imagine trying to cover the size of Brandon LaFell, Rob Gronkowski and Gresham along with the quickness of Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola in the red zone. That should be tough for defensive coordinators to comprehend. 

4: C.J. Mosley

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The Detroit Lions have already lost two top defensive tackles, and the Patriots should be strongly considering adding their top rotational interior lineman. 

C.J. Mosley has a build similar to that of Vince Wilfork at 6'2" and 312 pounds and plays a similar role as a gap-stuffer in the running game. According to Pro Football Focus, Mosley missed only one tackle in the past two seasons while notching 26 defensive stops by holding the offense to a gain of less than 30 percent of the yards to go for a first down.

He doesn't possess a lot of finesse as a pass-rusher by any stretch, but he does possess a lot of experience with a 10-year career, playing for four different teams and six different head coaches in the process. 

That wealth of experience will serve him well in a Patriots defense that shifts its game plan from week to week, series to series and even play to play. 

3: Da'Quan Bowers

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Once upon a time, defensive end Da'Quan Bowers was considered a high-risk, high-reward prospect in the 2011 NFL draft. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took the risk with a second-round pick but never got the reward they hoped for. 

Now, Bowers is on the open market, and while he may never fully realize his immense potential, the Patriots could still find a use for him in their rotation.

At 6'4" and 288 pounds, Bowers would probably play mostly on the end in a four-man line, but he could also move inside from time to time to provide some pressure on passing downs. He has never played more than 50 percent of the snaps in a given season, according to Pro Football Focus, but he wouldn't be expected to bear the burden of the Patriots' pass rush—not with Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich still in the fold.

With the departure of their key defensive backs, the Patriots need to invest in the front seven. Bowers is one of a few options who could apply more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. 

2: Patrick Robinson

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The Patriots have lost a lot of talent in the secondary over the past week but could add a proven commodity to the mix if they want. 

Cornerback Patrick Robinson was the 32nd pick of the 2010 draft and burst out of the gates in his first two seasons, allowing completions on 66 of 117 passes into his coverage (56.4 percent) for 818 yards with only two touchdowns, four interceptions, 13 passes defensed and a passer rating of only 53, according to Pro Football Focus. 

He came crashing down to earth in 2012 when he allowed nine touchdowns into his coverage, and a torn patellar tendon brought an end to his 2013 campaign before he ever had a chance to recharge his career. Instead, he had a career season in 2014 when he yielded only one touchdown into his coverage while intercepting two passes and breaking up another seven.

The Patriots wouldn't necessarily be banking on Robinson to be their all-star cornerback the way they did with Revis, but they could add a proven young player to their secondary by signing the former first-round pick. 

1: Dan Connolly

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One of the most important free agents the Patriots can sign at this point is one of their own.

Offensive lineman Dan Connolly is still a free agent after the first week of the league year and doesn't appear to be drawing much interest with other teams. No visits have been reported for Connolly, and unless a team suddenly shows interest in the second wave of free agency, Connolly's best bet may be to return to the place he's called home for the past seven years.

The Patriots have certainly learned of Connolly's versatility and value; he has started at all three positions on the interior of the offensive line—left guard, center and right guard—at different points in his Patriots career.

Connolly's presence next to rookie center Bryan Stork helped the offensive line transition from its tumultuous start to a more settled finish. He was also voted a team captain in 2014, proof that his leadership in the locker room is appreciated by his teammates. 

We've seen what the rest of the depth chart looks like, with Marcus Cannon and Jordan Devey struggling to hold their own when given the opportunity to start at guard. Keeping Connolly on the field would also keep Cannon and Devey out of uncomfortable positions.