With NFL free agency and the draft on the horizon, the Patriots have some work to do with respect to their roster.

Naturally, there are some of the more obvious decisions, such as figuring which in-house free agents to try and keep, with Jakobi Meyers and Jonathan Jones tops on the list, not to mention which unrestricted players to target on the market.

There’s also making sure to have a plan should veteran safety Devin McCourty opt to retire. That could involve either free agency or the draft.

But along with those bigger-ticket items, the Patriots will also have some other, less talked about, under-the-radar roster moves to make, such as deciding which players they might want to extend, and lock up for a longer period of time.

Another would be deciding if they need to find a new punter.

Third?

Is there anyone they might want to trade from their roster to gain assets and clear cap space?

Let’s take a look at each category.

The Patriots have the eighth most cap space ($32.4 million) in the league, according to Over the Cap.

With a bit of flexibility to work with in terms of free agency this year, they should also be looking at a few players who would hit free agency in 2024 or beyond, stay ahead of the curve, and try to work out extensions.

Tops on the list?

Kyle Dugger, who will be entering the final year of his rookie contract.

The 2020 second-round pick continued to grow and elevate his game in 2022, with three defensive touchdowns. While he still needs to improve in certain areas, he’s on his way to being an impact player for the Patriots defense.

Whether McCourty ultimately decides to retire, or not, having some continuity at that position is important. Between Dugger’s knowledge of the system, versatility in the defensive backfield, ability to impact games, and perhaps be a future leader, locking him up now makes sense.

McCourty, for one, believes Dugger will eventually take the leadership baton.

“He wants to do the right things on the field, and I think that’s the recipe not only to be a good player — especially in this system to be one of the better safeties — but also to be the leader of this team and of the defense going forward,” McCourty told reporters last year. “Watching him develop and doing those things has been fun and I can’t wait to see how he continues to develop in the future.”

After Dugger, offensive lineman Michael Onwenu should also be considered in the mix for an extension.

Onwenu was easily the team’s best lineman last year. The Michigan product settled in at right guard and produced an All-Pro-caliber season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Onwenu gave up just one sack and two quarterback hits during 1,044 snaps played. He was penalized just twice.

After not re-signing Ted Karras, and trading Shaq Mason for cap purposes, and leaving themselves thin on the line, the Patriots would be wise to make sure Onwenu sticks around.

Outside of players like Dugger and Onwenu, who are reaching the end of their rookie deals, Hunter Henry would be another possibility for a contract extension.

The tight end has a $15.5 salary cap number, and an extension would provide additional cap space, while Henry gets longer term security. With Bill O’Brien running the show, Henry figures to be utilized more in the offense.

The Patriots might seriously be considering moving on from Jake Bailey, who ranked last in average and net average among players with more than 10 punts.

He was a first-team All-Pro his rookie season two years ago, but looked nothing like that player last season. The Patriots were proactive in signing him to a four-year $13.5 million extension (making him the NFL’s highest-paid punter at the time), but haven’t gotten the best bang for their buck since.

He wound up on injured reserve last year with a back problem, then was hit with a team-imposed suspension.

It’s possible that ban could void the guarantees in Bailey’s contract, which would make him easier to release. The punter’s representatives filed a grievance over the suspension.

So there are clearly issues between the two sides. It’s not outlandish to think Bailey won’t be back. Neither will Michael Palardy, who wasn’t very good after taking over for Bailey late in the year.

Still, several scenarios could play out from here.

The Pats could keep Bailey, bring in competition from the 2023 draft, and keep the better punter.

Or, decide to just move on from Bailey, and draft his replacement, which is the leader in the clubhouse. One name to keep an eye on is Rutgers’ Adam Korsak, who won the Ray Guy Award as the top punter in college football.

Whether it’s a new punter, or Bailey, the Patriots need someone who can better handle kickoff duties.

Kicker Nick Folk, who took over kickoff duties after Bailey’s midseason injury, doesn’t have the leg for it. His inability to produce touchbacks hurt the Patriots, who allowed an NFL-high three kickoff return touchdowns. All three came on Folk kickoffs.

Folk, who is under contract for 2023, certainly remains in the driver’s seat for that job.

The Pats have brought in kickers to challenge Folk the past three seasons, but the veteran has always been the last man standing.

Folk has been a model of consistency since he took over in 2019. His conversion rate during that span (89.3%), ranks fifth-best among all kickers with at least 75 attempts. In 2022, however, he wasn’t as much of a sure thing from 50 yards in as he had been in the past.

The Pats reportedly met with Michigan’s Jake Moody, one of college football’s top kickers, at the Combine so they might once again be thinking about bringing in competition.

This is the time of year where trade rumors start to surface with teams trying to gain more cap flexibility with free agency on the horizon.

Who are the trade possibilities for the Patriots?

Jonnu Smith would be a top candidate for the team to part ways. He hasn’t come anywhere near playing up to the four-year, $50 million contract he signed in 2021.

The veteran tight end has been a huge disappointment, catching only 55 passes for 539 yards and one touchdown in two seasons.

His cap hit for 2023 is $17.2 million and $18.4 in 2024.

According to Miguel Benzan of “Pats Cap,” the Patriots could save $10 million against the cap if they trade him after June 2. If they wanted to get cap relief sooner, they’d have to extend his deal.

If the Patriots feel Bill O’Brien can finally make better use of him, given his stellar record with tight ends, they’ll keep him around.

Then, there’s Kendrick Bourne.

He has one year remaining on his three-year contract and is set to earn $4.75 million in 2023, which is team-friendly, especially if he produces like he did in 2021. Once again, it’ll revolve around O’Brien helping him recapture the playmaking ability he showed in 2021.

Or, given he ruffled some feather last season being outspoken about the offense, Bill Belichick might want to part ways.

From a numbers standpoint, trading Bourne wouldn’t make much sense. Nelson Agholor is headed out the door in free agency, while the Patriots could also lose Meyers, who is another unrestricted free agent.

Resurrecting Bourne, who had 55 catches in 2021 for 800 yards and five TDs, would seem the way to go.

Why would the Patriots meet with one of the top quarterback prospects during the Combine after having selected Mac Jones two years ago in the first round?

Why spend time with Anthony Richardson?

That was the million dollar question after a report surfaced during the week that he had met with the Patriots, a report Richardson confirmed Friday.

Perhaps it’s nothing more than a smokescreen, or a ploy, should Richardson be available at No. 14, where the Patriots first-round pick sits, and a quarterback-needy team sitting below has their sights set on the Florida star and might hand over a bundle to make sure they get him.

But what if Pats interest is legitimate?

Would they, should they, select him?

Let’s answer it this way. If the Patriots truly don’t believe Jones is the answer, and know this even after sabotaging him last year, absolutely, take a quarterback there.

There’s really no harm in investigating this kid.

Richardson, a dual-threat quarterback, is certainly an intriguing prospect given his physical tools and raw ability. And after his performance at the Combine Saturday, where he posted records in the vertical jump (40.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches) while also running a blistering 40-yard dash (4.43), his stock is soaring.

Without question Richard, who measured 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds, is an elite athlete.

His 53% completion percentage, however, should give pause. He’s a bit of a project, even as a first-round talent and freakish athlete. It’s just hard imagining the Pats going back to the well in the first round for a quarterback whether Richardson or anyone else.

Richardson’s session with the media Friday, however, was a gem.

“I wanna be a legend,” Richardson said. “I wanna be like Patrick Mahomes, I wanna be like Tom Brady – I wanna be one of the greats, you know, I will be one of the greats because I’m willing to work that hard and get to that point.”

Jets GM Joe Douglas, speaking at the Combine, doesn’t seem to be in too much of a rush to land a veteran quarterback. But that’s likely due to Aaron Rodgers, who finally emerged from his bunker, still figuring out what he wants to do.

“We’re going to look at every available option,” Douglas said. “We feel like when it’s time to make the right decision, when everyone goes through their process, we’re going to make the best decision for the Jets.”

While having a motivated Rodgers would seem attractive to most teams, at least one former Jet would prefer the team to sign Derek Carr instead of the Packers quarterback, who is expected to be available via trade.

Former Jets great Joe Klecko, during a recent appearance on CBS Sports Radio’s “Zach Gelb Show,” worries about Rodgers potentially messing with the younger players and ruining the locker room.

“I don’t think Rodgers is a fit with the young guys,” said Klecko, who was recently elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I relate this to myself with a young team that came up when we started winning. Why it was a good fit for all of us was because we all worked together and came up together.”

Klecko is hoping the team goes with Carr, who has met several times with the Jets.

“I see a guy like (Derek) Carr, who is an All-Pro,” the former Jets defensive lineman said. “He hasn’t been an MVP, but he has had some great years. I just can’t see them going after a guy that has had all his years and had his way. And then, when it doesn’t turn out his way, he goes dark. I just can’t see it.”

Speaking recently with Damien Woody, another former Jet, he believes Gang Green wouldn’t go wrong with Carr.

“That would be a big improvement over where they’ve been at quarterback for quite some time,” Woody said. “I know DC had a down year last year. No ifs ands or buts about that, but if you look at the body of work, what he’s been able to put together with basically a last place defense his whole career, I think the Jets fan base would take that in a heartbeat.”

Rodgers, however, has appeal to any team believing they’re a quarterback away. The Jets have one of the best defenses in the league, and a group on offense that features young stars Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. So in that way, he better fits the profile for the Jets, especially if he sticks a sock in his mouth.

While the NFLPA came out with a survey last week identifying teams with the best and worst playing conditions, here’s another consideration for players: states with better tax rates.

Buffalo safety Jordan Poyer is set to hit the open market, and on his podcast, suggested Miami would be a consideration based on the bottom line with his pay check.

“Taxes play a big part in all of our lives,” Poyer said. “Especially at the level that we play at. You look at some of your checks and some places you go take half of your check away. You are wondering where is that money even going. What are they doing with that money?”

Poyer, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod, recorded 63 tackles, eight passes defensed and four interceptions this season.

He’ll have a number of suitors, but the Dolphins are high on his list.

“It would be crazy to stay in the (AFC) East and come down here to South Florida,” Poyer said.