The New England Patriots have seen many legends on their roster over the years. Now with the hiring of Jerod Mayo, many people are turning the page to the next chapter of the Patriots franchise and it is time for new players to become the faces of Foxborough. Some of the names that come to mind are players like Christian Gonzalez, DeMario Douglas, and Christian Barmore. All young, incredibly talented players that could be the building blocks of the future. New England is known for always having a lockdown corner on the team and it is looking more and more like they have found their next one in Christian Gonzalez. As well as an elusive slot receiver in Douglas, and an elite defensive tackle in Barmore. But with this incredibly talented draft class coming up in April, and a loaded free agency market in March, the Patriots will need to find some more building blocks to add to the roster.
A couple names come up in free agency that would be great additions to New England. The number one priority should be Tee Higgins, receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals. Higgins is a tall, vertical threat, who can take the top off defenses and may be one of the best jump ball receivers in the league. If Higgins is ever in press man coverage, it is a huge mistake by the defense. Standing at six feet four inches, and elite athleticism, it is very difficult for corners to contain him. This is exactly what the Patriots need right now, a true number one wide receiver that can dictate coverage and open up other sections of the field. With the addition of Higgins, it will allow the Patriots to take some swings at drafting another receiver in April without having to worry about all the weight of the offense falling on the rookie’s shoulders. Tee Higgins would be the best receiver the Patriots have had on their roster since the days of Julian Edelman. Edelman was the last receiver to have one thousand yards in a season for New England in 2019. If Higgins ended up in Foxborough, he would very much be a face of the franchise and should be the top candidate for the next generation of Patriots if he becomes fully available in March.
The NFL Draft should be the next place New England looks to find its building blocks of the future. Starting off with the most important position in sports, the quarterback. At pick number three in the draft this year, the Patriots need to solidify their future with Drake Maye, North Carolina quarterback. Maye has incredible arm talent, along with the size and speed to be a top five quarterback in the NFL. With some weapons around him and good coaching, he could be the next king of the AFC East. The NFL has evolved fast, and now it is all about speed and high powered offenses. With a quarterback like Maye, the Patriots will be in prime position to start going toe to toe with the other big time teams in the league.
Rejuvenating The Patriots Receiver Room
As mentioned earlier, with the signing of Tee Higgins, the Patriots could also take a swing at a receiver in the NFL Draft. A potential target that could be a great fit is Brian Thomas Jr. from LSU. Thomas is a strong downfield threat with great agility and explosiveness, especially at his size. Standing at six feet four inches, Thomas has a huge catch radius and is very difficult for many covers to contain. If New England signed Tee Higgins and drafted Brian Thomas Jr., they would be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Not to mention DeMario Douglas in slot, who is proving himself to be a good NFL receiver. A completely rejuvenated wide receiver room would not only help the Patriots, but it would be huge in the development of their next young quarterback. The AFC East is loaded with wide receiver talent. The addition of a rookie such as Thomas, who has massive potential would help the Patriots finally compete in the gauntlet that is the AFC East.