





The NFL offseason enters its next phase next week.
The entire league will descend on Indianapolis for its annual scouting combine, where more than 300 college prospects will participate in a range of drills, interviews and medical exams ahead of April’s draft. Around the official events, front-office executives and agents will meet unofficially to gather intel and firm up their plans ahead of free agency.
Like most teams, the Patriots will use this information to begin finalizing their plans for the remainder of the offseason. Unlike most teams, if they successfully execute over the next two months, they should become one of the NFL’s most improved teams in 2025.
The head coach is in place. The quarterback, too. Now, it’s a matter of filling out the rest of the roster with a league-leading $128 million in cap space and nine draft picks, including four in the top 80 overall.
What should they do?
Here’s a reasonable best-case-scenario offseason for the Patriots:
Patriots acquire >> WR D.K. Metcalf
Seahawks acquire >> 2025 second-round pick, 2026 conditional fourth-round pick
In the modern league, No. 1 receivers do not reach free agency. Like elite quarterbacks and offensive tackles, the best of the best re-sign to record deals with their current teams, and only come available via trade or as prospects in the draft.
To wit: with two weeks left until the market opens, Tee Higgins appears to be tied to Cincinnati thanks to the franchise tag, while Chris Godwin just granted the Buccaneers more time to negotiate an extension with his camp. If Godwin returns to Tampa Bay, zero game-changing receivers will hit free agency; only over-the-hill stars or solid No. 2 options like Stefon Diggs (ACL tear), Amari Cooper, Marquise Brown and Darius Slayton.
The assumption here is Godwin remains in Tampa — the only professional home he’s ever known — so the Patriots pivot to Metcalf.
Three years ago, the Seahawks kept their prize No. 1 receiver from the open market by inking him to a hefty extension. Now entering the final year of that extension, Metcalf is scheduled to occupy more than 10% of the Seahawks’ salary cap, and rumor has it Seattle — which is currently over the cap — might be open to dealing him.
Granted, the Seahawks could release another receiver, 32-year-old Tyler Lockett, and clear $17 million in cap space to give themselves financial breathing room. However, independent of their cap crunch, Metcalf will likely want a new contract, given he has no guaranteed money in 2025. And Seattle may not be inclined to hand him a top-of-the-market deal, with former first-round wideout Jaxon Smith-Njgba emerging as a star and the offense expected to become more run-heavy.
If the two sides are unable to reach a deal in the coming days and weeks, the Patriots should be on the phone ASAP.
Metcalf turned 27 in December, and had been on pace for a third consecutive 1,000-yard season before spraining his MCL last October. Metcalf remains a physical marvel at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, threatening defenses with rare long speed and strength. The Patriots have not fielded a weapon like him since prime Rob Gronkowski.
In this scenario, the Patriots acquire Metcalf for the middle-to-back end of his prime at the expense of the 38th overall pick in this draft and a fourth-rounder next year that converts to a third-round pick if Metcalf makes the Pro Bowl in 2025. The Patriots also grant Metcalf his sought-after extension that averages roughly $30 million annually, includes multi-year guarantees through 2027 and cuts him loose when he turns 30 and Drake Maye reaches the end of his cost-controlled rookie contract.
Of note: Seahawks general manager John Schneider is close with Pats executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, whom he knows from their shared time in Green Bay.
Free agency
Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley
Contract projection >> 2 years, $40 million (via PFF)
Hand the big man a big check, and solve your biggest problem.
Stanley is a bona fide starting left tackle, a nine-year veteran with two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro honor on his resume. He started all 17 games for Baltimore last year and has graded out as one of the NFL’s better pass-protecting tackles in most of the last seven seasons over at Pro Football Focus. A former top-10 pick, Stanley looks and plays the part at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds.
After a devastating ankle injury wiped out most of his 2020 and 2021 campaigns, Stanley rebounded to average 14 starts over the past three years. He brings sorely needed pedigree, professionalism and stability to
the Patriots’ offensive line, which more or less sunk the team’s past two seasons. Sign him, and start bringing this offense back to the surface.
Ravens OL Patrick Mekari
Contract projection >> 3 years, $21 million (via PFF)
Mekari is more jack-of-all-trades than certified starter, a 27-year-old who played virtually every snap at left guard last season in Baltimore but also has extensive experience at both tackle spots.
Upon signing Stanley, the Patriots have four starting spots solidified between him, Mike Onwenu, David Andrews and either 2024 draft pick Caedan Wallace or Layden Robinson, assuming one makes a Year 2 leap. The last spot then goes to the versatile Mekari, while drafted rookies and new swing tackle Vederian Lowe provide depth behind them. And when injury inevitably strikes, the Patriots can confidently move Mekari or Onwenu around to patch holes unlike a year ago, when holes were all they had.
Saints EDGE Chase Young
Contract projection >> 2 years, $35 million (via PFF)
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Young is still just 25 years old and flashing elite potential as a pass rusher. He finished top 20 by pressure rate and total pressures last season, per PFF, numbers overshadowed by his 5.5 sack total. Young also fits the physical prototype for edge defenders in Mike Vrabel’s defense at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds.
Vikings CB Byron Murphy
Contract projection >> 3 years, $43.5 million (via PFF)
Like Godwin, Murphy recently agreed to push back his contract’s void date to allow for extended negotiations with his current team.
But after the season he had, headlined by six interceptions and career highs in tackles (81) and pass deflections (14), Murphy should find a robust market in free agency. And the Patriots ought to scoop him up to form one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL alongside Christian Gonzalez.
Only 27, Murphy can capably play man and zone. He thrived in Brian Flores’ aggressive defense that carries some scheme overlap with Vrabel’s system. He’s also logged more than 3,000 defensive snaps at outside corner and more than 2,000 in the slot, the type of versatility that historically has been prized in New England.
Chargers WR Joshua Palmer
Contract projection >> 3 years, $12.8 million (via Spotrac)
Having landed Metcalf as their new No. 1 target, the Patriots add proven depth outside in Palmer. He caught 39 passes for 584 yards last season, averaging 15 yards per grab for one of the highest marks in the league. Palmer also averaged 1.49 yards per route run, an important efficiency metric where he out-ranked fellow free-agent receivers Amari Cooper, Darius Slayton and Keenan Allen.
A big-play threat downfield, Palmer helps stretch defenses the way the Patriots haven’t in years and comes at a value, especially for a 25-year-old playing a premium position.
Seahawks DL Jarran Reed
Contract projection >> 1 years, $6 million (via PFF)
One of the most durable linemen in free agency, Reed has missed just one game over the past four seasons. He can play across the defensive line and provides valuable interior pressure, ranking 13th in total pressures last season among defensive tackles, per PFF. Reed’s age allows the Patriots to sign him at a discount, but also reliably count on the type of production they missed last year churning through fringe veterans and practice-squad talents.
Draft
Trade back to No. 6 overall
Assuming Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter are both gone, as the consensus top prospects in this year’s class, the Patriots pick up the phone when it’s their turn to draft at No. 4 overall.
Old friend Tom Brady and the Raiders are on the other end, hoping to move up for Colorado quarterback Shadeur Sanders and ready to strike a deal.
In exchange for the No. 4 pick, the Patriots receive Las Vegas’ first-rounder and third-rounder, which combined provide the value of their original pick. The extra third-round pick helps recoup some of the draft capital lost in the D.K. Metcalf trade and allows the Patriots more flexibility to move up and down the board.
And lucky for them, one of the best players in the draft is still waiting for them at No. 6 overall …
Draft Michigan DL Mason Graham
As Vrabel rebuilds from the inside out, he lands a can’t-miss prospect in Graham.
Graham is a 6-foot-3, 320-pound wrecking ball against the run and pass with a non-stop motor and ferocious play style. The 21-year-old plays on all three downs, winning often with power and burst. Graham is never out of position and constantly chasing down plays. Along with Christian Barmore, Graham becomes the rock upon which Vrabel builds the next great Patriots defensive front.
Target WR and OL on Day 2
Despite plugging holes across their starting offense and defense, the Patriots are far from finished at receiver and offensive line. In this scenario, they explore a trade back into the first round to secure a fifth-year team option in the contract of their second draft pick.
Whether or not they execute a trade, here are the prospects to watch in the late Day 1 and Day 2 range of the draft: Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., Texas wide receivers Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond, Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson, North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel, Purdue offensive lineman Marcus Mbow, Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery, Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris, Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins and TCU wide receiver Jack Bech.