The Patriots’ roster will look a lot different by the time the season starts in September.
Entering the offseason with nearly $130 million in cap space and needs all over their roster, the Patriots are expected to be busy in free agency this offseason. The Boston Herald will preview free agency going position by position to highlight potential additions.
The Patriots have a new head coach in Mike Vrabel and have returned to a coach-centric power structure with Vrabel only behind Robert and Jonathan Kraft in terms of power within the organization. Vrabel was heavily involved in free agency and pre-draft meetings at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he’s made it clear to the front office what types of players he’s prioritizing this offseason.
Eliot Wolf remains in his perch as executive vice president of player personnel, and the team hired Ryan Cowden — a long-time Vrabel confidant — as VP of player personnel. Some within the organization actually view vice president of operations and strategy John Streicher as Vrabel’s true No. 2.
We’ll continue by highlighting offensive tackles the Patriots can add this offseason.
The Ravens’ starting left tackle is in the back end of his prime, a nine-year veteran who made the Pro Bowl this season and has started all 104 games of his career. Stanley’s ranked as one of the NFL’s better pass-protecting offensive tackles each of the past three years, a stretch that followed two seasons wiped out by a significant ankle injury. Before then, he was named a first-team All-Pro and en route to becoming one of the best tackles in the league.
The 30-year-old is not only the best offensive tackle available, but one of the top free agents regardless of position. Adding Stanley, a high-character competitor, would shut a persistent black hole on offense and help the Patriots’ rebuild their culture. He should be the No. 1 target on their free-agent board.
At 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds, Moore Jr. is an average tackle with remarkable durability. He’s played more than 1,000 snaps in each of his first four NFL seasons after entering the league as a fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M. He enjoyed a solid year in pass protection for Pittsburgh last season, though that area has been inconsistent over his career.
Still only 26, the Patriots would sign Moore expecting his best football to be ahead of him.
Traded midseason from Jacksonville to Minnesota, Robinson hits the market after an up-and-down experience with the Vikings. He was acquired in a pick-swap deal that reflected his middling value as a solid, but unspectacular player, in a contract year.
Robinson, 29, represents more Plan B or C for the Patriots here, but at some point they need some type of upgrade. He would provide that, as an eight-year veteran with 101 career starts. Earlier in his career, the Jaguars twice applied the franchise tag to keep him.
A former top-10 pick, Wills appeared in just five games last year and got benched. He played left tackle for the Browns, but may be headed back to right tackle, his college position. Wills is seen as a better pass protector than run-blocker who has fallen short of expectations.
The 25-year-old also worked directly with Vrabel last season, when Vrabel served as a consultant in Cleveland. Late in the year, Vrabel helped coach the Browns’ offensive line and tight ends.
The 34-year-old former hits the open market after developing into one of the more consistent tackles in the league over stops in New York, Baltimore and Washington. Moses is a superior pass protector than run-blocker, though his numbers dipped last season at Pro Football Focus. He would represent a band-aid option at right tackle, the same type of signing the Patriots have made the past two seasons and been burned on; though Moses should allow Mike Onwenu to return to his ideal position at right guard.