Criticizing Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots has long since been a dangerous game. More often than not in the Belichick era, the Patriots have silenced their critics. However, for the majority of Belichick's 22 years as head coach, the Patriots have possessed a roster capable of proving the doubters wrong.
It is questionable whether that is the case in 2022, especially in an AFC East where each of their rivals has gotten better during the offseason.
The Patriots largely sitting out free agency is nothing new. New England departed from convention under Belichick to spend big last year but, for the most part, the Patriots have been happy to play the role of spectator when it comes the open market frenzy that happens every March.
This year, though, their inactivity has been particularly puzzling in the face of the impressive work done in free agency by the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.
The Bills bolstered an already ultra-talented defense with an experienced pass rusher in Von Miller, the Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill and signed Terron Armstead amid a host of other moves to set Tua Tagovailoa up for success, and the Jets made a series of astute additions on both sides of the ball as they continue to build around Zach Wilson.
A case can be made that each of those teams improved in free agency. The Dolphins are in the top five of Pro Football Focus' improvement index, which ranks the teams based on their percentage improvement in wins above replacement (WAR) following offseason roster moves. The Jets (13th) and the Bills (15th) are also credited as having improved.
The Patriots, by contrast, are 29th on that same list, and it is difficult to deny their team is worse than it was at the end of last season following the departures of the likes of J.C. Jackson and Shaq Mason.
The trade of Mason, arguably the top run-blocking guard in the NFL, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the scant return of a fifth-round pick, was much more surprising than the decision to let Pro Bowl cornerback Jackson out the door. Still, both moves deserve scrutiny.
Mason's exit is a significant blow to an offense that relied heavily on the running game last season to take the pressure off rookie quarterback Mac Jones, while it is difficult to identify the impact players on the defense in the wake of Jackson's departure. Relying on the returning Malcolm Butler or veteran signing Terrance Mitchell to fill the void left by Jackson appears ambitious at best.
With the likes of Matthew Judon and Christian Barmore up front, the Patriots do have some pass rush talent to cover up the potential deficiencies in the secondary. On offense, though, this remains a team short on playmakers, with Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne and Jakobi Meyers making for an uninspiring wide receiver group.
The Patriots will obviously have the chance to supplement the roster via the draft but, absent any significant additions to the offensive skill positions, Jones looks in something of a perilous position as a pocket quarterback who struggles to create plays for himself outside of structure and now must deal with the loss of one of his best offensive linemen.
Buffalo illustrated the gap between the Bills and the Patriots in a dominant blowout win over New England last postseason.
That gulf has widened with the offseason moves by the respective franchises and there is an argument the Dolphins and Jets have significantly narrowed the gap to the Patriots. Belichick has earned the benefit of the doubt over the course of a Hall of Fame career, but it is tough not to have concern for the Patriots at this point in the offseason.
