You Be the GM: Patriots Needs Heading into NFL Free Agency

The New England Patriots are expected to spend the off-season retooling a roster that fell just short of a Super Bowl appearance last season.

That work begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. when the NFL free agency period opens and players are free to sign contracts with new teams. With 19 players from the 2012-13 Patriots squad set to hit the free agent market Tuesday, the Pats will be busy filling its roster with new – and hopefully some familiar – faces.

Among the Patriots’ biggest free agents this off-season are wide receiver Wes Welker, cornerback Aqib Talib and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer.

While retaining some or all of these free agents will be important for the Patriots, so will be going outside of the organization to upgrade at several areas of need.

Heading into free agency, the Patriots biggest positional needs remain on the defensive side of the football and none more paramount than cornerback and safety.

Fortunately, the Patriots have options at both positions as there is a solid class of veteran free agents that would be viable upgrades to the Patriots’ current roster. Another position of need the Patriots may target in free agency is pass rushers – with edge guys like Dwight Freeney and John Abraham on the market.

On offense, the team will need to address its wide receiver position. Whether that is re-signing Wes Welker and/or Julian Edelman, or reeling in a big name free agent, the Pats have plenty of salary cap space to work with – thank you Tom Brady.

In addition to the glaring needs on defense and shoring up the wide receiver position, the Patriots could use an explosive player in the kick and punt return game. It’s a position the Patriots have not had consistent success at since the retirement of Troy Brown. Baltimore Ravens’ kick returner Jacoby Jones showed how an explosive kick returner could impact the NFL playoffs and with Cleveland Browns receiver/returner Josh Cribbs on the market, he could provide the Patriots with the game-changing spark on special teams it needs to get back on top of the football world.

Here’s a complete list of NFL free agents, courtesy of NFL.com.

Patriots’ Team Needs Heading into Free Agency

In order of importance:

1. Cornerback
2. Safety
3. Pass rusher (defensive end)
4. Coverage linebacker
5. Wide receiver
6. Kick returner

Current Patriots Free Agents

In no order:

• Wes Welker, WR
• Aqib Talib, CB
• Sebastian Vollmer, OT
• Kyle Arrington, CB
• Danny Woodhead, RB
• Donald Thomas, OG
• Julian Edelman, WR
• Patrick Chung, S
• Will Allen, CB
• Josh Barrett, S
• Deion Branch, WR
• Marquice Cole, CB
• Tony Flammetta, RB
• Niko Koutouvides, LB
• Derrick Martin, S
• Myron Pryor, DT
• Jamey Richard, OL
• Trevor Scott, DE
• Tracy White, LB

TELL US: With free agency starting Tuesday, what players or positions would you like to see the New England Patriots target this off-season? Who from the list above would you re-sign and who would you let leave Foxborough? Let us know in the comments section below!