Popular Patriots Players, Coaches Could Be Done In New England

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The Patriots season just ended, but the offseason promises to be one of the busiest in recent memory. Of course, everyone is watching whether Tom Brady stays or goes. But there are a number of important players and coaches who are either free agents, candidates for another job, or possibly considering retirement.

Here is the status of some of those people:

Coaches/Front Office

Bill Belichick

There has been increasing confidence in recent years the 67-year-old coach will stick around on the sidelines — perhaps longer than Tom Brady. He isn't expected to hang it up, but since details of his contact aren't publicly known and he didn't say he'd be back in 2020 when directly asked Sunday, he makes this list.

Nick Caserio

Caserio is New England's longtime director of player personnel, and he'll almost certainly be gone next season. The Patriots kept him from going to the Texans last season, and he'll have his pick of where he wants to go once this season concludes.

Josh McDaniels

Assistant coaches and coordinators come and go in New England, but the probable exit of McDaniels is a big one. McDaniels, who is a top candidate to get a head coaching job elsewhere, has been the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for much of Brady's career. If McDaniels goes, Brady would have to start over with someone else very late in his career.

Joe Judge

Judge, the team's special teams and receivers coach, will either be in a top coaching position in New England or elsewhere. He's interviewing Monday with the Giants, who have a head coaching vacancy.

Players

Tom Brady

A lion's share of the focus will be on what happens to Brady. The 42-year-old, who for the first time will be a free agent March 18, said after the season-ending loss to Tennessee it's "pretty unlikely" he will retire.

But that doesn't mean he'll be back in Foxborough. Belichick said it's too soon to talk Brady's future, though he called him an "iconic figure in this organization."

Jamie Collins

The linebacker's second go-around with New England got off to a hot start before tapering off, much like the defense as a whole. He might not land a huge deal elsewhere, and the Patriots are probably going to have to plug some holes on defense.

Devin McCourty

McCourty, a leader on the Patriots defense, has done it all. He said after the Titans game he "definitely" sees himself playing football next season, which is good news for New England.

Matthew Slater

Forget Brady and Belichick, this special teams ace might be the best at what he does in NFL history. Slater, a six-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl selection, has won three championships with New England. If he wants to keep playing, it appears he has plenty in the tank.

Joe Thuney

The good news is Thuney just made his first All-Pro team as the one rock of New England's inconsistent offensive. The bad news is that puts him in line to get Paid, with a capital-P.

Kyle Van Noy

Belichick rescued Van Noy from Detroit and helped him become a top defensive player in New England's formidable defense. The pass-rusher is poised to cash in in a big way this offseason, and the Patriots aren't in the business of handing out big-time contracts.

Ben Watson

The Patriots lured the tight end of out retirement, then cut him, then re-signed him. It might be a career for Watson.