The New England Patriots had a relatively successful season in 2021. It was the team's first year under the leadership of Mac Jones. The rookie quarterback was selected 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and led his team to a playoff run in his first year in the league. The Patriots finished the regular season 2nd in the AFC East with a winning record of 10-7. New England fell to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, Jones' first NFL playoff game.

As usual, Bill Belichick was on the sideline leading his team all season long. It was his 21st season as the head coach. The 69-year-old shows no signs of slowing down or retiring, so the Patriots are under his and Jones' leadership moving forward.

While the duo led their team to a playoff run, Belichick doesn't settle for anything less than a championship. That being said, there are three major moves that the organization must make this offseason to ensure success next season.

3. Acquire a veteran QB

In his playoff debut, Mac Jones looked like a deer in headlights. The moment went to his head, and he underperformed compared to the regular season. Jones had a completion percentage of 63% in the Wild Card Game. He threw two interceptions and was sacked three times in the brutal 47-17 loss.

Don't panic, I'm not saying that the Patriots need to get Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson to replace Jones. I'm actually saying the exact opposite. New England needs to acquire an experienced quarterback to be Jones' backup. The rookie quarterback would greatly benefit from this.

For example, Joe Flacco has been in and won multiple playoff games. He even has a Super Bowl Championship and Super Bowl MVP title under his belt. At 37-years-old, Flacco is nearly a decade past his prime, but would serve as a stellar mentor for Jones as he progresses in his career.

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2. Find the next Gronk

Ultimately, the goal for the Patriots is to fill the void that Tom Brady left when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Easier said than done, but Mac Jones did a good job in his rookie season. However, one of the main reasons that Brady was so successful was because of his relationship with Rob Gronkowski.

The quarterback and tight end duo were nearly unstoppable in New England and Tampa Bay. The Patriots need to find either a wide receiver or a tight end that can be “that guy” for Jones.

1. Capitalize on the draft

Due to their successful season, the Patriots aren't too fortunate in their placement in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, they do have the 21st pick in the first round, and that's a perfect spot for the Patriots to pick up what they need.

ESPN's Mike Reiss pointed out that New England will likely be shorthanded at the cornerback position next season. This is because they traded CB Stephon Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers and his replacement, J.C. Jackson is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. If the Patriots select a promising cornerback like Derek Stingley Jr. from LSU, they should be in good shape.