After a run to the Super Bowl in Mike Vrabel's first year as head coach of the Patriots, what will New England now do personnel-wise to try to improve for year two?
One big name who has already been linked to them is Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby, who has reportedly already told Raiders minority owner Tom Brady that he does not plan to ever play for the team again.
The Patriots would seemingly have bigger needs on offense than defense given the way the playoffs, and the Super Bowl in particular, played out, but a star pass rusher could certainly take their D to another level. The Patriots tied for 22nd in sacks this season and only had two players with more than five in Harold Landry (8.5) and K'Lavon Chaisson (7.5) – and Landry's production and playing time fell off late as he battled injury.
Crosby, meanwhile, has had seven or more sacks in all seven of his NFL seasons, including 10 in 15 games this year. The 28-year-old has been a Pro Bowler each of the last five seasons, and was a Second Team All-Pro in 2021 and 2023.
Crosby signed a massive three-year, $106.5 million extension ($91.5 million guaranteed) last March – a deal that actually hasn't even started yet.
Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston joined WEEI's Jones & Keefe on Tuesday and discussed the Patriots' chances of landing Crosby in a trade.
"It seemed like Eliot Wolf intimated in a conversation that he had with a reporter that the Patriots were active at the trade deadline and just didn't want to give up multiple first-round picks," Curran said. "Seemingly, that was inferring that they were chasing Myles Garrett. So if they're going to chase Myles Garrett, if you're going to get into that shop, then you're going to have to bring a big wallet with you.
"If they're willing to do that for Myles Garrett, would they be willing to do that for Maxx Crosby? To me, it seems as if they would. So to me, I would give them as good a shot as any, especially as articulated by I think Dianna Russini last week that Crosby would love to play for Vrabel."