'It's a Process': Can Jerod Mayo Turn Patriots Into Free Agent Destination?

Sooner or later, the New England Patriots hope to be a premiere free agent destination just like in their glory days.

Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo (left) and owner / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

For two decades, the New England Patriots were the team everyone wanted to play for as they ruled the league with an iron fist.

Oh, how times have changed. Tom Brady is long gone, and after posting a 4-13 record in 2023, Bill Belichick has now departed as well. The Patriots are now firmly in rebuild mode, and luring free agents this offseason has proved difficult as a result.

New England has been connected to several high-profile free agents this offseason, including star receiver Calvin Ridley, but have little to show for it. This is a far cry from the Patriots' glory days, when veterans would often take discounts to sign with the club.

Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo (left) and owner / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

As the Patriots begin their rebuild, new coach Jerod Mayo wants to make the team an attractive free agent destination once more, and he knows just how to do it.

“When you go through the draft, you want to get guys that are magnets,” Mayo told reporters last week, via Pats Pulpit. “I played with the ultimate magnet in Tom Brady where guys wanted to play for Tom, with Tom, and with the team. It kind of gets skewed, and now it’s the other end of the spectrum where, what pieces do we have to attract those outside guys? If we draft a guy, you’re coming here. So, that has to be our philosophy as we continue to put this thing together.”

Fortunately for the Patriots, they're in great position to land one of those "magnets" as they hold the No. 3 overall pick in the draft.

The Patriots weren't exactly in a position to spend this offseason; they are rebuilding after all. Once they are back in a position to compete, though, Mayo expects them to have better luck on the open market.

“There were various reasons why guys didn’t sign with us,” Mayo said. “Once again, the unknown is scary for a lot of people and I would say, even in our building right now, it’s still unknown. Like, will I be a good head coach? I don’t know. Hopefully. I think I can be. Will Eliot be a good GM, or whatever he is in his role? I don’t know, we’ll see what happens with that.

“It’s going to be a process.”