Patriots.com

With the scouting combine in the rearview mirror, the 2024 NFL Draft is starting to take shape with the offseason in full swing. Although Pro Days and Top-30 visits are still to come in the draft process, the next big step on the NFL calendar to paint a clearer picture of the Patriots draft needs is free agency. From this perspective, New England's approach to free agency, which begins with the legal tampering period on March 11, won't focus on building a roster through a spending spree that resembles their record-breaking 2021 offseason. Instead, the messaging from head coach Jerod Mayo and de facto GM Eliot Wolf is a more methodical team-building strategy of draft, develop, and retain. Along those lines, one would expect the Pats to make strong pushes to retain core players who are in-house free agents, such as Kyle Dugger, Mike Onwenu, Hunter Henry, and Kendrick Bourne. Then, we could see them reinforce strengths on the defensive side of the ball in a strong free-agency class while adding a few contributors on offense.