New England Patriots: 5 offseason needs in 2020

The Patriots failed in their quest to win another Super Bowl this season. That means Bill Belichick will do some major roster renovation this offseason.

Everyone in Foxborough understands that Bill Belichick’s one and only goal is to win a Super Bowl. The fact that the Patriots didn’t even make it to the big game this season will irritate their head coach all offseason. Expect big changes in New England before the 2020 regular season kicks off.

On the other hand, there’s still a fair amount of high-end talent on the roster. Stephen Gilmore is one of the top defensive backs in football. The offensive line returns a lot of talent even without the coaching of Dante Scarnecchia.

The entire offseason will still hinge upon one man’s decision. Quarterback Tom Brady holds all the cards regarding his future. If he elects to return to the Patriots then fans will rejoice. If he elects to leave in free agency it will cast countless New England fans into a deep depression.

The Patriots have several needs to fill via free agency and the draft. One of the first items on Belichick’s shopping list should be finding another player who can rush the passer.

5. Another edge rusher

Jamie Collins had a terrific season for the Patriots in 2019 and he led his unit with seven sacks. Still, that isn’t a good number for a team’s top sack artist. It’s even more troubling when you consider the fact that Collins is a flight risk in free agency this offseason.

No matter what happens with Collins’ contract, it’s still imperative that New England acquire some pass-rushing help. Belichick doesn’t like to pay big money for edge rushers, but that decision is starting to take its toll on his defense. If the front office doesn’t want to spend big money on a veteran, they can always choose to address the problem cheaply via the draft. In a perfect world they can find a pass rusher on the defensive line, but another linebacker with some pop could also do the job.