While it's difficult to imagine a team fresh off yet another Super Bowl win could possibly need any help, it's apparent the New England Patriots do not have the same roster they did last season. Several key players have moved on either via free agency or retirement and the team has a lot of making up to do as the 2019 season approaches.
Rob Gronkowski's retirement sent the team through a whirlwind and now they are faced with the harsh reality of needing to fill a void left behind by one of the last decade's greatest talents. Trey Flowers left behind a huge void on the defensive side of the ball as the team is now in dire need for a pass rush.
This offseason has been incredibly slow for the Patriots and they have not done much in the way of signing any help for next season. The 2019 draft could be huge for the team and the franchise's keen eye for talent could be the difference maker prior to next season.
Let's take a look at the Patriots' three biggest needs following the main wave of free agency.
Pass Catching
The Patriots need a pass catcher more than ever heading into the 2019 season after tight end Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement and wide receiver Josh Gordon's off-field issues continue. Currently, the Patriots have Julian Edelman and Phillip Dorsett as their main contributors in the passing game, so it's clear they could desperately use some help for Tom Brady.
Gronkowski was Brady's favorite target, so there will be plenty of adjustments for the Patriots offense next season and someone will need to step up. The Patriots have been projected to take players like Ole Miss wide receiver A.J. Brown as well as Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. in the first round. If New England wants to get back on track with their offense, they'll likely need to look closely at players like these two playmakers in the draft.
However, Iowa's Noah Fant is a player the Patriots may try to trade up for.
Pass Rusher
The loss of Trey Flowers hurts big time, especially since he reunited with Patriots former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia in Detroit. New England can still make a play for players like Ndamukong Suh, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Ezekiel Ansah, and any of them can make a big difference on defense.
It's likely as long as Bill Belichick remains the team's head coach, the team will have a legitimate defense. The team always seems to find a way to remain in the top-10 in regards to team defense despite losing key players each season. The 2019 season should be more of the same for the Patriots, but some extra help on the defensive line could be huge.
A player like Suh on the line could prove to be huge for current Patriots players like Kyle Van Noy and Dont'a Hightower.
Quarterback Prospect
Tom Brady can not play forever, although he doesn't appear to be showing any signs of slowing down. The Patriots should look very closely in this years draft for a possible successor to take over for Brady once he retires.
Duke's Daniel Jones is a player the Patriots may be keeping an eye out for as well as Missouri's Drew Lock. The Patriots would be wise to snag a prospect for Brady to mold and this year's draft is full of quarterback potential. New England's biggest cause for concern is life after Brady, so a prospect in this year's draft could very well prove to be significant for the team.
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