Free Agency Grades: Strong Patriots Offseason?
The New England Patriots have not been the flashiest team in free agency so far, but the moves the team has made are expected to help Bill Belichick's squad improve.
The Patriots' offseason has addressed more on the offensive side than defense, and that's where the needs have been.
Sports Illustrated handed out grades for every NFL team in the first three weeks of free agency and gave the Patriots a "B" for their efforts.
"The Patriots are giving Mac Jones a strong chance to rebound this season after signing Smith-Schuster and Gesicki, but the biggest acquisition might be offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who took play-calling duties from Matt Patricia," SI writes. "The Patriots also retained standout cornerback Jonathan Jones and defensive back Jalen Mills."
By signing outside players on the offensive side of the ball, it shows a sign that the team is seeking a different look for Bill O'Brien's unit. It also indicates that the team is happy with the progress on the defensive side of the ball from 2022 having re-signed several key pieces.
This aligns with how those units performed this past season. New England ranked No. 7 on defense while slipping down to No. 26 on offense.
With new personnel, there's hope that the Pats can rebound on offense in 2023.
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