3 Changes That The New England Patriots Need In The 2023 Offseason

Last season the New England Patriots almost missed the playoffs. If it wasn’t for the wild-card win, we wouldn’t have seen their NFL season specials.

This near miss is a clear sign that something needs to change in the team. We’ve done some deep diving into the cause of their setback. The main difference? Mac Jones.

The quarterback has regressed after a powerful rookie season in 2021.

One of the biggest negative changes was his passer rating. It dropped from 92.5% to 84.8%. The 28% drop is enough to lose a game. In fact, it did lose games.

It’s easy to blame this change on nerves, or Jones’ ankle injury, but there’s more to it. The quarterback didn’t have enough support. He couldn’t make great plays because there was no one there for him.

We have some ideas to change the Patriots’ fate, ready for the next season.

Use Known Offensive Coordination Talent

Looking at the Super Bowl 57 lines, there isn’t much difference between the two teams. They aren’t equally matched, but the bettors know that either team could win. This is because their coaches are proven experts. Most of them were taught by Andy Reid. Reid himself will be coaching the Chiefs to take down his former team.

Reid is known for listening to his players, watching them perform, and finding their talents. With that information, he learns how to utilize each player, creating a strong team overall. 

New England needs to follow this thought process. They need an offensive coordinator who recognizes Jones’ strengths. They also need to think creatively and add a spark to their play style.

The current offensive coordination officers have backgrounds in defensive or special teams. Neither have real experience with offensive teams.

If one of them had a different background and the other knew the offensive strategy, the added difference would have created an interesting flavor. But because both teams were rusty in their offensive knowledge, they ended up creating a predictable offensive structure.

Finding a knowledgeable offensive coordinator isn’t hard. There are loads to choose from, many of whom would love the challenge of coordinating a new team. The Patriots need to change their current strategy and invest in known offensive coordination talent.

Invest In A Strong Receiver

Mac Jones needs a strong receiver. At the moment their target is Jakobi Meyers. Meyers is a good receiver, but the pool of comparative options isn’t great.

Meyers is a free-agent and last season he acquired 804 receiving yards. These are good numbers, but for New England to pull itself out of this rut, they need more than one contender.

Their main options are JuJu Smith-Schuster and Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham should be their best bet, but because he didn’t play at all last season we cannot be sure where his current abilities lie. 

The free-agency pool isn’t the Patriot’s only choice. They could get a stronger team through a trade, and one team has already shown an interest. The Arizona Cardinals have made reports on trading DeAndre Hopkins. 

Depending on what they want in return, Hopkins would be the best option.

And of course, we cannot forget about the drafts. They can pick 14th overall, which isn’t a great opportunity, but not many teams are looking for a receiver.

They will be watching Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison, and Quentin Johnston and hoping to pick any one of these three. Each is either ranked 15th or higher on the draft board.

The Patriots need to weigh up their options and get backups in place, to ensure they have a strong receiver on the side.

Improve Pass Protection

The next suggestion is controversial, but it needs to be said. Trent Brown should go. He was responsible for 8 sacks in 2022. He also caused 13 penalties.

His numbers are down, and he cannot protect his quarterback. If the team let him go now, they could save over $10 million and prevent more unnecessary defensive blunders.

Whether the team trades him, releases him, or keeps him benched, Brown needs to go. Our sources say that Orlando Brown Jr will become a free agent soon. The Kansas City Chiefs have plowed through the season this year, so taking Orlando could be a valid option.

As always, there is more than one way to get new players. The team could acquire a strong left tackle from the drafts. They should be looking at Paris Johnson Jr or Peter Skoronski. Both are in the top 12 prospects list or higher.

Either way, the team has to drop Brown or bench him. They could invest time in his re-training, but as a free agent, there is no point. Instead, they would be better off hiring a full team member.

Summary

The New England Patriots need to change their methods and help Mac Jones reach his potential. To do that, they should hire proven offensive coordinators, and invest in a new receiver and a new left tackle.

They can do this by trade or through the drafts.