The New England Patriots are heading into the NFL offseason with a significant amount of salary cap space, but the big question is whether they can actually attract free agents.
After posting a 4-13 record in back-to-back seasons and arguably having one of the weakest rosters in the league, New England isn’t exactly the most appealing destination for top talent.
However, could things change this time around? Patriots executive Eliot Wolf believes so, citing rookie quarterback Drake Maye as a key selling point.
“Yeah, absolutely. Player X from another team might think, ‘Rookie quarterback? Big deal. We’ve seen plenty of them struggle.’ But Drake is actually performing well, and it’s all there on film for everyone to see,” Wolf said, according to Henry McKenna of Fox Sports.
Maye had an impressive rookie campaign, throwing for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while completing 66.6% of his passes with an 88.1 passer rating. He also showcased his mobility, rushing for 421 yards and two touchdowns at an average of 7.8 yards per carry.
With Maye’s promising performance and the hiring of Mike Vrabel as head coach, marquee free agents like Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin might see New England as a more attractive option.
Still, convincing high-profile players to join remains a challenge, as the Patriots have struggled to compete in recent years, missing the playoffs in four of the last five seasons.
It’s also worth noting that despite having significant cap space last offseason, the team failed to land any big-name free agents.
New England is hoping for a different outcome this year, and perhaps Maye’s emergence could be the key to turning things around.
