The Patriots hit rock bottom.

The good news? They’re already positioning themselves for a rebound.

Under new coach Jerod Mayo, the Pats have overhauled a coaching staff that oversaw one of the league’s worst offenses last season. Their front office is now led by longtime outsider turned director of scouting Eliot Wolf, a former executive in Green Bay and assistant GM for the Browns. The Patriots are projected to hold the third-most cap space in the league heading into free agency, and are armed with significant draft capital, starting with the No. 3 overall pick.

However the Pats proceed, the stakes are significant.

The franchise hasn’t won a playoff game in five years, and owner Robert Kraft said he hopes their first-round pick positions the team “beautifully” for years to come. To put the Patriots back on track, the Herald is publishing a daily series with five offseason fixes that cover the draft, free agency and coaching.

No. 5: Restock the offensive tackle position

No. 4: Maximize front-office flexibility

No. 3: Revamp receiver group

When searching for positives to take away from the Patriots’ 2023 season, you can only really look to the team’s defensive performance.

The Patriots finished with a 4-13 record in Bill Belichick’s last season, but their defense ranked eighth lowest in expected points added (EPA) per play, second lowest in rush EPA per play and 14th lowest in dropback EPA per play. And that was despite playing most of the season without two of the team’s best players in outside linebacker Matthew Judon and 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez, both of whom played just four games before hitting season-ending injured reserve.

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5 Patriots offseason fixes: No. 5 — Rebuild the offensive tackle position

That the Patriots’ pass defense played so well without Judon and Gonzalez (and without being helped out by its offense) is itself something of a miracle. Toss in the fact that pass rusher Josh Uche underperformed in Judon’s absence and the revolving door at cornerback that saw J.C. Jackson play just eight games, Jack Jones play five games and Marcus Jones play two games, and it becomes even more impressive.

There’s some work to be done to make sure the pass defense continues to perform well without head coach Bill Belichick and linebackers coach/playcaller Steve Belichick, however. Mayo has replaced Belichick, and defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington has been promoted to defensive coordinator. Jerry Montgomery is replacing Covington, Dont’a Hightower is coaching inside linebackers and Drew Wilkins has been hired to coach outside linebackers. Cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino, safeties coach Brian Belichick and director of skill development (pass rushers) Joe Kim are being retained.

As far as personnel goes, Uche, slot cornerback/safety Myles Bryant, safeties Kyle Dugger and Jalen Mills, outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings and linebacker Mack Wilson are all free agents.

There are also some potential cap casualties who could be released in Jackson ($12.375 million base salary) and safety Adrian Phillips ($1.65 million base salary). Judon’s contract also might need to be reworked. The team borrowed $3 million from his 2024 salary to give him a pay raise last season. He’s set to earn just a $6.5 million salary this season.

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The Patriots will either need to bring back Jennings and Uche or re-stock their pass-rushing group. Interior rushers Christian Barmore and Daniel Ekuale, and defensive ends Deatrich Wise and Keion White are still under contract, but one or two dependable options are still needed.

The Jaguars’ Josh Allen, the Panthers’ Brian Burns and the Vikings’ Danielle Hunter are the top options available in free agency, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll even be available with franchise tags and contract extensions on the table.

A player like Jadeveon Clowney could make sense on a one-year deal. He had a career year with the Ravens, and Wilkins is coming over from Baltimore.

Alabama’s Dallas Turner and Florida State’s Jared Verse are regarded as the top edge defenders in the draft but, unless the Patriots decide to use their first-round pick on a defensive player, likely won’t be available.

Alabama’s Chris Braswell or Washington’s Bralen Trice could be more reasonable fits in the draft.

If Jackson gets released to free up cap space, that leaves the Patriots with Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Shaun Wade, Marco Wilson and Isaiah Bolden under contract at cornerback. Phillips, Jabrill Peppers and Marte Mapu are signed for 2024.

Bringing back Dugger should be a priority for the Patriots at safety. The franchise tag could be in play if Dugger and the Patriots can’t reach a long-term deal. Bryant has proven himself to be a dependable and versatile player, but the Falcons could provide competition for his services after hiring his college defensive coordinator, Jimmy Lake.

One more starting-caliber outside cornerback is needed to provide depth behind Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones. Jaylon Johnson, L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie are set to be the highest-paid outside cornerbacks in free agency, but a return for Stephon Gilmore in the Patriots’ secondary could be logical. There are 12 cornerbacks listed in The Athletic’s Top 100 draft prospects rankings, so it’s looking like a pretty stacked class.

Only a few moves are needed to make sure the Patriots’ defense continues to be a strength for the franchise.