Patriots Path: New England's 2022 Offseason Blueprint For 2023?
To peer into the New England Patriots' future, can we simply look back at their past?
As the Pats ogle the next crop of NFL rookies at this week's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, they are formulating a plan on how to improve upon their disastrous 2022 that saw them finish 8-9 and out of the playoffs for the second time in three years.
A big move has already been made in replacing Matt Patricia with Bill O'Brien. The returns of Matthew Slater and Devin McCourty would help with consistency, much less captaincy. But decisions loom, such as whether or not to re-sign free-agent receiver Jakobi Meyers.
A year ago, of course, the Pats were a staring at a different set of decisions. Maybe looking back will help us determine what they're going to do moving forward ...
FREE AGENTS
Jabrill Peppers - The safety signed a one-year deal and played both in Nickel and on special teams, but was far from a difference-maker on a talented defensive secondary.
Malcolm Butler - Injured in the preseason and released.
Ty Montgomery - Signed to be the replacement for the versatile James White, he scored the team's lone touchdown in the opener but suffered a various injuries and never found his niche.
Terrance Mitchell - Released at the end of training camp.
The Patriots also signed a handful of their own free agents, including McCourty, Slater, White, kicker Nick Folk, offensive tackle Trent Brown, linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley, quarterback Brian Hoyer, offensive lineman James Ferentz and defensive lineman Carl Davis.
They let go of cornerback J.C. Jackson (who was a bust with the Chargers), running back Branden Bolden (Raiders), Ted Karras (Bengals) and Jakob Johnson (Raiders) and Gunner Olszewski (Steelers).
TRADES
Mack Wilson - Acquired in exchange for Chase Winovich, he had 36 tackles and was a regular contributor on a Super Bowl-caliber defense.
DeVante Parker - They sent a third-round pick to Miami for Parker and a fifth. He was underwhelming, suffering numerous injuries and catching only 31 passes and three touchdowns, two of which came in the season-ending loss in Buffalo in Week 18.
Shaq Mason - They got a fifth-round pick in exchange for their best offensive lineman. While he played almost every snap in Tampa, his spot in Foxboro was filled by surprisingly productive Michael Onwenu.
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