The New England Patriots have a long list of 13 unrestricted free agents, three restricted free agents, and three exclusive-rights free agents, but you can be certain that head coach Bill Belichick and director of player personnel Nick Caserio will kick the tires on all the players on the open market.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) lists Patriots LB Dont’a Hightower as a “must re-sign” caliber player, noting that “the Patriots lack a productive linebacker outside of Hightower, and if they lose the former first-round pick, it could become their biggest position of need.”
PFF also tried to help out by narrowing down the list of candidates for the Patriots with some five players that could be ideal fits in New England.