Quarterback: Joshua Dobbs (San Francisco 49ers)
The Patriots looking outside their current room for a legitimate quarterback addition seems unlikely to me, but for the sake of the exercise, we can entertain the idea of Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs has shown some okay play in spurts, most notably with the Cardinals two years ago; in eight games he totaled 11 total touchdowns and five interceptions. He also has ties to Mike Vrabel’s time in Tennessee, as he made two starts at the end of the season there in 2022. The Patriots already have Drake Maye and Joe Milton under contract, and Jacoby Brissett would be a more likely third than Dobbs. Nonetheless, if they move on from Brissett or get a trade offer for Milton, he could be a name to watch.
Running Back: Ty Johnson (Buffalo Bills)
Not only would Ty Johnson be a very exciting add in my eyes, but his loss would also deprive the Bills of who Josh Allen called the best third down back in the league. He had over five yards a carry and just shy of 300 receiving yards on the year while already sharing the backfield with star James Cook and rookie standout Ray Davis. Not to mention the aforementioned Allen took 102 carries himself. While moving to a division rival may be rare, it hasn’t stopped Johnson before. The running back spent 2020-2022 with the Jets in a similar role. His addition may be a redundancy when you consider Antonio Gibson’s solid last season, and the running back class in the draft is thought to be very deep, but adding Johnson could supply the spark the offense needs to get back on track.
Tight End: Johnny Mundt (Minnesota Vikings)
Tight end is one of few positions the team should feel reasonably comfortable about, with Hunter Henry on a long-term deal and rookie TE3 Jaheim Bell getting a handful of snaps last season. The issue may arise should Austin Hooper walk in free agency, whose 45 catches slotted him third most on the roster. If he walks, which is unlikely, Mundt could be a solid replacement. He’s known as a blocker and if the team wants to see Bell ascend to TE2 and take the blocking pressure off, Mundt would fit that role nicely. Ironically enough, I wouldn’t expect Mundt to leave the Vikings either, I’d expect this position to remain unchanged going into next season.
Wide Receiver: Tee Higgins (Cincinatti Bengals)
Higgins to the Patriots has been a common theme for the past few months, but it does make sense. The Bengals will need to pay Ja’Marr Chase shortly and already paid Joe Burrow, so cap is at a premium. Their defense also struggled and is in need of reinforcement, all while star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is unhappy with his contract. All this boils down to Higgins likely leaving Cincinnati. A $30 million per year contract is probably in the cards for him, and the Pats shouldn’t have any issue paying that premium price tag. Injuries may be a concern, but if he can stay healthy, Higgins immediately bolsters this receiving corps.
Offensive Tackle: Alaric Jackson (LA Rams)
The reason Alaric Jackson may not be re-signed would also be the reason that I would steer clear of him, which makes this option a bit paradoxical. Following Andrew Whitworth’s retirement, the Rams signed Joe Noteboom to a three-year deal to be their left tackle of the future, but he didn’t work out as a pass blocker. In his first full season at left tackle, Jackson replaced him and played well, recording a 75.0 PFF rating overall, pass blocking and run blocking. The issue is one-year wonders while protecting future Hall of Fame QBs like Matt Stafford are all too common (see Trent Brown 2018). Nonetheless, with the state the Patriots’ line is in, landing a 26-year-old left tackle would be a huge boost to the unit and roster.
Interior Offensive Line: Patrick Mekari (Baltimore Ravens)
Patrick Mekari’s played all over the line since entering the league, as both a tackle and guard. A hallmark of great Patriots teams of the past has been versatility across the line – Mike Onwenu played both guard and tackle, Ted Karras played across the interior and Cole Strange has showed guard-center flexibility most recently. Especially in the event of a David Andrews retirement, Mekari would be useful. Strange would likely make the transition to center, leaving the left guard slot vacant. Alternatively, he’d have the flexibility to play at either tackle spot. While not as glamorous as Higgins, he’s one of my favorite candidates available.