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Lost in the off-season discussions about draft picks and free-agent signings the Patriots could make were a few under-the-radar roster moves the team made this week.
On Wednesday, New England announced the release of three players: defensive back Tae Hayes, kicker Quinn Nordin and wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson.
Hayes was signed late in 2022 to fill in for some injured cornerbacks and had had three tackles in two games with the team last year. Nordin, meanwhile, spent the year on the Patriots' NFI list after originally being waived with an non-football injury designation.
Wilkerson missed the season on injured reserve after suffering a bad concussion during joint practices with the Carolina Panthers a day after being ejected for a fight in practice. He has four career catches for 42 yards and two touchdowns with New England.
None of these moves are earth-shattering as none of them likely had a place on the 2023 roster had they stayed with the team.
However, those transactions point to the Patriots' needs at some key positions, especially cornerback and wide receiver.
With Jonathan Jones set to hit free agency unless an extension is announced before the legal tampering opens on March 13, the Patriots have the following cornerbacks under contract from last year's 53-man roster: Jalen Mills, Marcus Jones, Jack Jones and Shaun Wade. Myles Bryant is listed as a restricted free agent.
Even if the team does bring Jonathan Jones back on a free-agent deal, bringing in more cornerback depth feels like a must for New England. Though both Jack and Marcus Jones showed promise on the defensive side of things, it wouldn't hurt to bring in another boundary corner that could take over for Mills eventually.
Similarly, the Patriots are very thin at wide receiver with Jakobi Meyers' future up in the air: only DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton and Kendrick Bourne remain of last year's top group of receivers. Tre Nixon and Raleigh Webb are both early restricted free agents.
That's not going to cut it for a team that needs to provide more weaponry for Mac Jones, even if Meyers were to return on a lucrative new deal. That's why New England should absolutely draft a receiver within the first two days of the April draft, especially if they're not going to go big on the trade market to get a star like Tee Higgins or DeAndre Hopkins.
The Patriots have the makings of a team that could make the playoffs and maybe win a postseason game in 2023. But they have a few holes that must be addressed if that's going to happen.
