PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Patriots’ approach to free agency didn’t go as expected last offseason. With a first-year head coach and no established franchise quarterback, the outcomes were less than ideal. The Patriots’ numerous moves ended up being more misses than hits for a team in dire need of reinforcements. While they added some depth with veteran acquisitions like Austin Hooper, Antonio Gibson, and Jacoby Brissett, the team didn’t secure a standout free agent signing in 2024.
For Eliot Wolf, things shifted this offseason. The Patriots were proactive, signing seven projected starters in March alone—four on defense (Milton Williams, Harold Landry, Carlton Davis, and Robert Spillane) and three on offense (Stefon Diggs, Morgan Moses, and Garrett Bradbury). Speaking to MassLive on Monday at the NFL Annual Meetings, Wolf expressed satisfaction with the results but emphasized that there’s still more work to be done.
“Yeah, I liked the players that we signed,” Wolf shared with MassLive. “We definitely think we improved the team. We still have work to be done, obviously, at some positions, but we do like the players and the people that we’ve been able to acquire.”
Looking ahead, the team’s offensive line is a key focus. Last season, the offense gave up 52 sacks, the most for New England since 1999 and the sixth highest in franchise history. Wolf brought in Moses to play right tackle and Bradbury as the center. However, the team still lacks solid options at left tackle and left guard.
The Patriots reportedly showed interest in several veteran free agent left tackles—Ronnie Stanley (re-signed with Baltimore), Jaylen Moore (signed with Kansas City), Dan Moore (signed with Tennessee), and Cam Robinson (signed with Houston). They also considered veteran left guards Patrick Mekari (signed with Jacksonville) and Will Fries (signed with Minnesota).
The Patriots have struggled to find stability at left tackle in recent years, but Wolf is optimistic they will resolve the issue and secure a reliable left tackle for Week 1, whether through the draft, trade, or another method.
“We’re very confident whether it comes from the draft or trade or something like that,” Wolf said. “We’re still going to be turning over rocks and trying to find the best way to acquire talent.”
The Patriots have signed 14 veteran free agents this offseason, making their roster look very different from last fall. On defense, they added players at every level, including two edge rushers (Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson), two defensive tackles (Williams and Khyiris Tonga), two linebackers (Spillane and Jack Gibbens), and two defensive backs (Davis and Marcus Epps). On offense, the team brought in two veteran receivers (Diggs and Mack Hollins), a veteran quarterback (Josh Dobbs), and three offensive linemen (Moses, Bradbury, and Wes Schweitzer).
This marks a significant shift from last year, when the Patriots’ biggest moves involved re-signing their own players. Their 2024 external additions included Hooper, Gibson, Brissett, Sione Takitaki, K.J. Osborn, Nick Leverett, Jaylinn Hawkins, Joey Slye, Mitchell Wilcox, and Mike Purcell.
