The New England Patriots are sitting at 3-10 and their playoff hopes are over. Even though there are still four game left on the regular season schedule, the groundwork for change is underway.
The Patriots will have all of their own draft picks, which are likely to fall in the top-five in each round. They have very few commitments locked up long-term, and they will potentially have upwards of $100 million in cap space. All of that is enticing for a new general manager and coach pairing, which is likely to happen.
The new regime will try and spend like the 2021 Patriots but get a better return on investment. Here are five potential free agent fits for the Patriots with the available cap space in 2024:
RB Austin Ekeler, LA Chargers
Austin Ekeler might seem like an outlandish fit for a team with Rhamondre Stevenson, but Ekeler is more than just a running back. He is a receiving threat that probably compares the closest to Christian McCaffery than anyone else currently in the league.
If Ezekiel Elliott walks, Ekeler and Stevenson, who would be in a contract year, could form a formidable one-two punch in a new offense for a new quarterback.
The league is trending towards having two capable starters at running back to keep them fresh, and Ekeler does things Stevenson can’t do—and vice-versa. It would be fun to begin to build the roster around that run game to start.
WR Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Another option for the Patriots is wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr from the Colts. He is having a career-year and is in line for a big pay day, which the Patriots could do if they view the 26-year-old as a true No. 1 receiver.
Pittman will likely pass 1,000 yards this season with him currently having 87 catches for 889 yards. Speaking personally, I mentioned Pittman as an option earlier in the year during the drama involving running back Jonathan Taylor.
Players might not want to stick around as long as Colts owner Jim Irsay is running the majority of the show, and Pittman could end up shaking free.
Pairing Pittman with a young quarterback could be a nice way to start the rebuild on offense. Although the Patriots are rebuilding, their defense is still elite and has some solid pieces to build around. Going all in on offense is not something they should shy away from, and Pittman would be a nice option.
WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins is in a spot similar to Pittman Jr.
Both have been productive in the NFL early in their careers, but both will likely leave the teams that drafted them.
Unlike Pittman, Higgins might want to stay in Cincinnati, but the team has no plans for him in the future. And quite frankly, they don’t have the cap space to even consider it.
With only 364 yards on the season, the 25-year-old Higgins is having a down year. However, his snap counts are also down, and he has dealt with injuries. So is there a chance the Patriots decide to go after the once promising star and hope he regains form?
WR Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
Darnell Mooney is in a tough situation and is a cheaper option, if the Patriots wish to add a few veteran receivers. They can go with Mooney as a secondary option for the offense. Essentially, he could fill Kendrick Bourne’s role, if they wish to let him walk.
Even if Bourne sticks around, he is still recovering from an ACL injury, and adding a player like Mooney could help out in the process.
Mooney is still young enough that he could hit his stride in a new offense with a new quarterback. The Patriots need to right their wrongs with the past regime’s offense, and Mooney could be a nice start to upgrading the receiver room.
RB Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
If the Patriots want to go with a two-headed monster at running back, Josh Jacobs could be someone they pay real money to do so.
Even if he makes top of the market money, they could always ship off Stevenson at the deadline, if he outperforms his rookie contract and becomes too expensive.
Jacobs is an upgrade over Stevenson if it were to get to that point, but at least for 2024, the Patriots will need as many weapons as possible if they’re bringing in a new coach and new quarterback to hit the ground running (pun intended).
