3 roster needs Patriots must still address after free-agency spending spree

The New England Patriots — much like the rest of the NFL — were busy last week once free agency commenced across the league.

​New England bolstered its roster across several critical areas giving Drake Maye a new weapon in former Packers wideout Romeo Doubs and a stout guard (when healthy) in Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Bruising fullback Reggie Gilliam should add some snarl in short-yardage situations in 2026, while Kevin Byard and Dre’Mont Jones figure to be key cogs on defense for Mike Vrabel and now-full-time DC Zak Kuhr.

​But, even after the Patriots addressed several critical needs over the last week, New England executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf acknowledged last Thursday that the current roster is far from a finished product.

​“We’ll explore anything that we think can help the team,” he said.

​Next month’s NFL Draft will offer another prime opportunity for Wolf, Vrabel, and the rest of New England’s top brass to bolster the Patriots’ depth, while trades remain a viable option at this juncture of the league calendar.

As the NFL offseason moves forward, there are several pressing needs Wolf and Co. still need to address if this team wants to build on a breakthrough year in 2026.

A No. 1 wide receiver

There’s a lot to like about what Romeo Doubs can offer New England’s offense.

​Doubs, who turns 26 next month, had plenty of success on the outside with Green Bay over the last few seasons. But, he could also thrive as a dependable target out of the slot for Maye moving forward.

According to CLNS Media’s Taylor Kyles, Doubs reeled in 14 of 19 catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns on slot targets in 2025. He should also help remedy some of New England’s red-zone woes, given the 18 touchdowns he’s secured over the past three seasons.

But, last Thursday, Wolf offered up a measured take when asked if Doubs would be able to completely replicate the production that Stefon Diggs posted in his lone season in Foxborough (85 catches, 1,013 yards, four touchdowns).

“I think it’ll be a variety of guys,” Wolf said. “Steph moved around a lot in the offense, and we have some guys that are still here that we think can do more. Kayshon (Boutte) can certainly move around more than he did last year. Mack (Hollins) can play every position, Kyle (Williams) can play every position.

“And then, Pop (DeMario Douglas), when he was on the field this year, was very productive. So we feel good about the group and the tight end group is kind of part of that as well. We’re excited to see what Josh (McDaniels) can put together for the offense.”

​The Patriots have a solid receiver corps, especially with Doubs in the equation. But, New England should still be on the prowl for a proven No. 1 target for Maye, with Eagles star wideout A.J. Brown still making plenty of sense as a blockbuster trade target for the Patriots.

New England might have to wait until after June 1 to try and pry Brown out of Philly, with the Eagles also likely seeking at least a first-round pick in return for the three-time Pro Bowler.

But, even with that steep asking price, a receiver with six 1,000-yard seasons on his resume like Brown would provide a major lift to a Patriots offense that flatlined during the postseason.

If New England continues to balk at Eagles GM Howie Roseman’s hefty asking price for Brown, the Patriots could use their 2026 first-round pick (31st overall) to target a versatile and explosive athlete like Texas A&M wideout KC Concepcion.​

An explosive edge rusher

The Patriots already have the makings of an elite defensive unit in 2026 — especially with returning talents like Milton Williams, Christian Gonzalez, Robert Spillane, and Marcus Jones all looking to build off of last year’s breakthrough campaign.

​Younger players like Craig Woodson should also take a step forward this fall, while free-agent pickups like Kevin Byard and Dre’Mont Jones are poised to make an immediate impact.

​There’s a lot to like about what a physical player like Jones can offer on a Vrabel-led team. The 29-year-old edge rusher posted 7.5 sacks and 24 QB hits in 2025, and should be a stronger presence when tasked with stopping the run as a hulking 6-foot-3, 281-pound linebacker/defensive end.

But, Jones alone isn’t going to be the only remedy for New England’s pass-rushing woes, which took another hit after K’Lavon Chaisson left the Patriots and signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Commanders last week.

​Even with Chaisson’s breakout season in 2025 and the likes of Williams and Christian Barmore routinely generating pressure at the line of scrimmage, New England only managed to post 35.0 sacks during 17 regular-season games. Only six teams finished last season with fewer sacks.

With the free-agent pool of dynamic edge rushers now dried up, don’t be surprised if New England targets the draft as the best avenue to add edge-rushing talent.

​Potential first-round targets like Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, Missouri’s Zion Young, and Miami’s Akheem Mesidor would all bring plenty of upside to an already strong New England defensive unit.

​Despite the Raiders’ continued claims that they’re holding onto Maxx Crosby, it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise if teams like the Patriots circle back with Las Vegas to see if the All-Pro talent might still be available after a blockbuster deal with the Raiders fell through last week.

Depth at offensive tackle

If Alijah Vera-Tucker can avoid the sting of the injury bug, there’s a lot to like about what the new Patriots guard can offer New England’s offense as a stabilizing presence at guard, especially alongside Mike Onwenu.

​The tackle position is a different story.

​New England’s offensive line was shredded by Seattle during Super Bowl LX, with rookie left tackle Will Campbell’s sustained postseason struggles raising concerns about his long-term viability as the protector of Maye’s blind side.

​For now, Wolf, Vrabel, and the rest of the Patriots have reaffirmed their commitment to Campbell as the team’s starting left tackle in 2026.

​But, that critical area of the roster is operating on thin ice next season, given both Campbell’s up-and-down play and the age of starting right tackle Morgan Moses, who turned 35 earlier this month.

​Even if Campbell rights the ship and Moses can defy Father Time once again in 2026, the Patriots would be wise to add some depth at the tackle position — both as a contingency plan for this season and as a long-term replacement for Moses moving forward.

​The Patriots — who already lost a valuable backup tackle this offseason in Vederian Lowe — might pivot to the draft in search of a future right tackle.

It wouldn’t be a headline-stealing pickup, but targeting a stout tackle prospect like Clemson’s Blake Miller with pick No. 31 would be a prudent move for Wolf and his staff as a potential successor to Moses.

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.