After being left for dead following a devastating Week 4 loss in Kansas City, the New England Patriots rallied to earn the top seed in the AFC playoffs. They used that to catapult their way into Super Bowl XLIX where they defeated the defending champion Seattle Seahawks 28-24.
Where do the Patriots go from here?
New England can return to the Super Bowl next season if its keep their core together.
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The title gives head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady their fourth Lombardi Trophy in six attempts. Not only does that constitute the most during the post-free agency era, but it ranks among the very best runs for any team in NFL history. Brady is now firmly entrenched in the "best quarterback of all time" debates, while Belichick has overcome at least some of the tarnish on his reputation brought on by the "Spygate" scandal as well as this past seasons' football deflation controversy.
While most think of the Patriots as an aging team due to the longevity of Brady and Belichick, they’re the anomalies on an otherwise youthful group. Still, they face several questions this offseason related to personnel.
Free agents
Darrelle Revis
The Patriots’ top priority in free agency is reaching a new deal with top cornerback Darrelle Revis. Revis proved invaluable during his first year in New England, regularly taking away half of the field. He intercepted two passes and held quarterbacks to a 74.7 passer rating on passes thrown in his direction according to Pro Football Focus.
The team technically has the choice of exercising an option in his contract for 2015, but that involves paying him $20 million and facing a cap hit of even more. Instead, the Patriots would rather sign Revis to a new contract for more total money but a lower annual impact on the salary cap.
Devin McCourty
Revis isn't the only starting defensive back that could leave the Patriots this offseason. All-Pro safety Devin McCourty plays a critical role in New England's secondary, securing centerfield and allowing more limited athletes like Patrick Chung to play closer to the line of scrimmage. McCourty hauled in two interceptions and forced a fumble in 2014.
Because quality free safeties are always in demand, McCourty could command a lot of attention on the open market. The Patriots will try to sign him to a long-term deal before other teams get a sniff of him.
Shane Vereen
Throughout the Patriots' run under Belichick and Brady, the offense has featured a pass-catching scatback capable of creating mismatches and providing a reliable dump-off option in the passing game. For years that player was Kevin Faulk, followed by Danny Woodhead. However, for the past two years Shane Vereen has owned that role in New England. He caught 52 passes during the regular season as well as 11 in the Super Bowl.
Re-signing Vereen isn't as crucial to the Patriots as either Revis or McCourty, but not just anyone can replace him. The next closest running back on the roster in terms of receptions was James Develin with six. Vereen probably won't find a better fitting role than the one he currently has. As such, a reunion appears likely.
Stephen Gostkowski
Other than for injury, the Patriots have employed only one place kicker since 2006. That player, Stephen Gostkowski, has consistently performed at an elite level. Gostkowski's 86.8 field goal conversation percentage is the highest in team history, and he has exceeded 90 percent for a season three times.
Good kickers rarely change teams, and Gostkowski has given the Patriots no reason to move on. He’s fresh off the best season of his career, converting 94.6 percent of his attempts. Unless some teams with more cap space than it knows what to do with offers him an outrageous offer, expect to see No. 3 back in New England for 2015.
NFL draft
The Patriots enter the draft with the final pick in the first round, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Belichick decided to trade back. More so than any other NFL decision maker, he prefers to trade back with overaggressive teams and accumulate value.
However, if the Patriots do stick with pick 32 they'll have plenty of options to reinforce their roster. Perhaps the top concern is finding a long-term replacement for aging nose tackle Vince Wilfork. Dan Kadar of Mocking the Draft has them tabbing Iowa's Carl Davis for that very purpose.
New England could also look to fortify its receiving corps. While Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell played admirably in 2014, neither provides game-breaking ability à la Randy Moss a few years back. Even at the back end of round one, this draft class provides some intriguing options such as Auburn's Sammie Coates.
Coaching
Because teams playing in the Super Bowl continue their season for five weeks longer than most of those looking for new head coaches, it buys them valuable time. Specifically, most of the vacancies had been filled before the Patriots’ final game, and the one that remained open was earmarked for Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. As such, prized assistants like Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia will remain in New England for at least another season.
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The Patriots are well positioned to continue their success going forward. They’re the youngest team to ever win the Super Bowl, and outside of Brady and Wilfork their most important pieces are currently under 30. That suggests their title window will remain open as long as their head coach and future Hall of Fame quarterback hang around.
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