The New England Patriots head into the offseason with more than $120 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap.
With promising young quarterback Drake Maye and plenty of money to spend, the Patriots have a prime opportunity to pursue top-tier free agents.
For over a year, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has been viewed as New England’s primary target. However, the Bengals could use the franchise tag to keep him, making his availability uncertain.
If Higgins does become a free agent, he would be the obvious choice for the Patriots. He is coming off a strong season with 911 yards and 10 touchdowns—exactly the kind of production New England needs in its receiving corps. Many analysts, including Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, expect that if Higgins is available, the Patriots will aggressively pursue him.
“If Higgins hits the market, the New England Patriots should be at the front of the line with an open checkbook. Drake Maye flashed franchise-quarterback potential as a rookie but was saddled with arguably the league’s worst receiving corps,” Knox wrote.
This offseason, New England’s focus should be on surrounding Maye with playmakers and strengthening the offensive line. While adding Higgins alone won’t solve everything, pairing him with improved protection up front would put the Patriots in a much better position heading into the 2025 season.
