How to Fix the Patriots

The NFL offseason will be in full swing before we know it, with coaching changes, free agency and the NFL draft reshaping the 2023 fantasy football landscape. With that in mind, the Fantasy Life squad is breaking down every NFL team to determine what went wrong in 2022 and identify paths to improvement. Who knows, maybe an NFL GM will read this and realize those fantasy nerds aren’t so crazy after all – we all want the same thing, more points and more wins!!!

Team Summary

At first glance, the 8-9 record of the New England Patriots’ 2022 season appears as average as it gets. However, anyone who followed the team knows they were still a very strong defensive unit that was held back by one of the least exciting offenses in the league. 

After a promising rookie season, QB Mac Jones took a step back in 2022. A combination of poor play calling and a lack of weapons made it difficult to establish any kind of identity or rhythm on that side of the ball. If the Patriots are going to become a consistent playoff team again, they have to make a serious investment in improving the offense.

The lone bright spot on offense was RB Rhamondre Stevenson, who had the breakout season that many expected and appears poised to be a key piece of the team in 2023.

The AFC East has turned into a very tough division in recent years and that is only going to continue with rumors of the Jets likely to land one of the premier free agent QBs this offseason. A bad 2023 offseason could bury the Patriots in the cellar of their division.

Fortunately for the Patriots, they still have Bill Belichick, a strong defense, draft capital, and cap space to go about redesigning their roster to make a playoff push in 2023.

Fantasy Fixers Recommendations

Upgrade the offense in three simple steps:

Hire a real offensive coordinator ✅

The Patriots went out and accomplished this by bringing back former OC Bill O’Brien after he spent the last two seasons at the University of Alabama.

The Matt Patricia Experiment was nothing short of a disaster and may have even set back Mac Jones’ development to some degree. O’Brien is an experienced, QB-friendly coach who should be able to get the most out of this offense. 

His competence as a play caller should do wonders for both offensive production and team morale, as the frustration was obvious at points during last season. This hire gives me hope that the offense can bounce back in a big way if they are able to add weapons this offseason.

Additionally, having someone of O’Brien’s pedigree leading the offense should help the team assess Mac Jones’ true potential if they aren’t sold on him as a franchise QB. What Mac is able to accomplish this season could determine his long-term future in New England as he enters the back half of his rookie contract.

Jan 1, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) hands off the ball to running back Damien Harris (37) against the Miami Dolphins in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Add multiple pass catching weapons

The team’s top pass catcher, WR Jakobi Meyers, is a free agent and could get a bigger deal on the market than what the Patriots should pay to retain him. If he leaves, the front office will essentially need to rebuild the WR room from scratch. Tyquan Thornton looks like the only long-term piece on the roster while players like DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, and Nelson Agholor are best viewed as short-term depth pieces.

In order to give the offense enough firepower to compete in 2023, it is going to take a combination of veteran and rookie talent. The Patriots should be inquiring about a number of veteran WRs, but the two who seem most likely to move at this point are Keenan Allen and DeAndre Hopkins.

The O’Brien hiring may make it difficult for the Patriots to acquire Hopkins, who is expected to be traded this offseason. Perhaps reuniting their OC with a different former receiver of his, such as Brandin Cooks, is a more realistic target.

They will also need to add young talent through the draft. The team has a decent amount of draft capital and should be willing to consider a receiver as high as their first round pick (14th overall), but more realistically can target someone in the second or third round who could contribute as a rookie while developing alongside whichever veteran they bring in. 

In case they want to copy my scouting notes, I like WR Parker Washington as a potential Day 2 NFL Draft target for this Patriots team. He is someone who can step into the slot, be a versatile weapon, and create yards after the catch. 

Improve the tackle spots

In addition to the draft capital mentioned above, the Patriots are in a good spot from a salary cap perspective and can use that money to strategically upgrade the offensive line. OT Isaiah Wynn is a free agent and has struggled with injuries, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the team lets him move on. 

With a handful of good tackles on the open market, the Patriots should make signing at least one a top priority. They can then look to either add depth through the draft or with additional signings in free agency if the price is right.

Keeping Mac Jones well protected should be right up there with upgrading his weapons in terms of offseason goals. Having a good offensive line will be important in a division where they have to match up with Bills’ and Jets’ defenses four times per season.

Of course, there will be tweaks to make on the defensive side of the ball too, but I trust that Belichick has a plan in place to keep the Patriots as a top-10 defense. Now, if they just follow this blueprint for the offensive side of the ball, they can have a playoff-caliber team this season.