After a bridging 2020 season, the New England Patriots turned things around and successfully returned to the postseason in this year's campaign. Though they only played until the Wild Card Round, they are still plenty of things to be happy about, especially after having a rookie quarterback at the forefront of the team.
Now, a crucial offseason is looming on the horizon for the Patriots as they aim to keep the band together. However, it will be a tough challenge for the front office as they have several key pieces that have expiring contracts heading to next season.
Not included on this list is the 34-year-old safety in Devin McCourty who has undeniably been a vital presence for the Patriots' defense through the years. Though at this stage of his career, it may be probable that he is already leaning towards retiring in the near future which makes his status uncertain for 2022.
With that said, here are four players that New England must re-sign in free agency for next season:
4. Dont'a Hightower
Similar to McCourty, linebacker Dont'a Hightower has been a staple in the Patriots' defensive unit over the last decade. He still had a good run this season as he helped spark the team's seven-game winning streak with his tenacity and physicality on the defensive end.
Unfortunately, Hightower's production eventually decreased towards the tail-end of the regular season due to a knee injury. Him not being in the pink of health also affected his performance against the Buffalo Bills in their Wild Card loss where he only tallied three combined tackles for the Patriots.
At the age of 31, there is no doubt that the two-time Pro Bowler still has a lot to offer on the field as one of the leaders of their defense. However, he would most likely need to take a pay cut in order for the team to accommodate his new contract as well as the other expiring deals on their roster.
3. Nick Folk
Currently playing at 37 years old, veteran kicker Nick Folk is one of the guys that has proven that age is just a number. Sure, there are a ton of young kickers who have recently emerged but the former Pro Bowler continues to show that he remains among the best in the league today.
Merely brought back on a one-year, $1.075 million deal by the Patriots, Folk played well beyond the paycheck that he received, especially with his superb accuracy. In 2021, he successfully nailed 36-of-39 field goal attempts and has also been incredibly efficient from inside the 50-yard range this season.
It almost seems like a no-brainer for the Patriots to bring Folk back since they won't have to shell out a ton of money just to secure his services. Without a doubt, his contract will surely go up at the top of the priority list for the front office in the offseason.
2. Trent Brown
After a short stint with the Las Vegas Raiders from 2019-2020, offensive tackle Trent Brown decided to make his way back to Foxborough on a one-year, $9 million deal. He was haunted by a calf injury for the first half of the season though he eventually got back and redeemed himself after his return in Week 10.
Surely enough, the 380-pound lineman has been a difference-maker for the Patriots offensive line that seemed to perform better whenever he's healthy. Additionally, it also helps that Brown has always been vocal about enjoying his time with New England.
Being able to bring him back on another bargain deal would surely be a huge boost to the offense, especially with a more experienced Mac Jones leading the charge for the team next season.
1. J.C. Jackson
In recent years, cornerback J.C. Jackson didn't get to have that much exposure on the field as he had to play behind the shadow of star ball-hawk Stephon Gilmore. Now that the 2019 DPOY is no longer in New England, he was then able to unleash his full potential and play to the best of his abilities this season.
Jackson racked up career-high numbers of 58 combined tackles and 23 passes defended as well as eight interceptions that ranked second-most in the league. His stellar play for 2021 eventually paid off as he earned the first Pro Bowl selection of his young career.
After having a productive campaign, the 26-year-old can now command a bigger contract as he will surely gain a ton of buzz in the upcoming offseason. The Patriots can still offer him a franchise tag for 2022 though they have to move quickly and beat out the other teams in order to retain Jackson on their roster for next season.
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