2024 offseason primer: Patriots usher in post-Bill Belichick regime

For the first time since 2000, the New England Patriots (4-13 in 2023) will have a head coach and general manager not named Bill Belichick.

It’s been said that nobody wants to be the guy to follow the guy — Belichick’s tenure included 266 wins, 18 playoff appearances, 17 division titles, six Super Bowl championships and three AP NFL Coach of the Year awards — but first-year head coach Jerod Mayo seems up to the task.

Though he’s the second-youngest head coach in the NFL (37), and he has no previous experience, Mayo has been on the Patriots staff since 2019 as an inside linebackers coach. He was even hand-picked by Patriots owner Robert Kraft to succeed Belichick last season.

Continuing with the theme of change, the Patriots could have new starters at multiple positions including quarterback — a need the team is expected to address with the No. 3 overall pick in April’s draft.

Here’s what you need to know about New England’s offseason:

PROJECTED 2024 CAP SPACE:  $69.86M (third-most in NFL)

FREE AGENTS | Offense: QBs Nathan Rourke, Garrett Gilbert; RB Ezekiel Elliott; WRs Kendrick Bourne, Matthew Slater, Jaen Reagor, Tre Nixon; TEs Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki, Pharoah Brown; OTs Trenton Brown, Tyrone Wheatley Jr.; OG Mike Onwenu; Center James Ferentz

Defense: DE Christian Elliss; ILBs Mack Wilson, OLBs Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings; Terez Hall; CBs Jalen Mills, Myles Bryant, Alex Austin; Safeties Cody Davis, Joshuah Bledsoe, Kyle Dugger

Special teams: Kicker Nick Folk

Outlook: The Patriots have plenty of free agents-to-be. But with one of the worst rosters in football, there aren’t exactly many players who should be priority re-signings. Offensively, Bourne (37 receptions, 406 yards, four TDs), Henry (42 receptions, 419 yards, six TDs) and Brown (579 offensive snaps, 17 pressures, eight hurries, three sacks allowed) are players that could be brought back and play key roles in 2024.

Defensively, Uche (37 pressures, 28 hurries, six QB hits, three sacks), Wilson (37 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles) and Dugger (109 tackles, seven passes defensed, five pass breakups, two interceptions) are the only players worth retaining. All three are 27 or younger and can be part of New England’s long-term plans.