If the Patriots want to shore up their quarterback situation, they can start now. It's believed that Smith still wants to play. He'd be a great fit for Belichick due to his veteran savvy and short-area accuracy. Assuming he's not off the cliff, his mere competency would give the Patriots offense a chance to greatly improve upon 2020. Ideally he's paired with a young, high-upside QB, though, like a high draft pick.

If Bill Belichick wants a veteran tight end who can catch, he may view Cook as his best potential return on investment. As much as Belichick probably wants Hunter Henry, he's going to be quite expensive. He may view Cook as a similar player with similar production at a price lower than the top of the market. But Cook was still solid last season with a 37-504-7 line, so he will certainly cost more than the bargain bin guys.

If you recall, the Patriots were reportedly in on Humphries (and a number of other free-agent slot receivers). But he eventually signed a four-year deal with the Titans with $12 million guaranteed. He only lasted two seasons and played just 19 games from 2019-20. Humphries may have landed himself in "One-Year Prove-It Deal" territory. Perfect time to expect Belichick to strike.

One kind of free agent Bill Belichick should still be able to attract is an established veteran whose stock has fallen and who needs to get his career back on track. Short has missed 27 games over the past two seasons with shoulder troubles, but from 2014-18 he was one of the more disruptive defensive tackles in football. If all he can find is a one-year deal, his best bet may be to re-establish himself under Belichick’s coaching then go get paid again in 2022.

The five-time Pro Bowler played just three games before a torn bicep ended his 2020 season early. Now 31 years old and coming off a major injury, Casey won't require a significant financial investment. This could be a classic partnership between Belichick and a proven veteran who needs to get back on track. If Casey wants to win a Super Bowl, though, he'll have several suitors better than New England.

The time may finally come for the Patriots to sign Tate, who's been profiled as a good fit for years now. Unfortunately, Tate's best days may be behind him. He turns 33 in August, and his yards and catches have declined for three straight seasons. He won't cost much, though. And they'd take any kind of established receiver in the mix at this point.

Bill Belichick has intimate knowledge of Anderson's game by now, having coached against the veteran defensive tackle during his time with the Jets. He's big (6-foot-6, 301 pounds) and versatile and the Patriots would certainly find some use for him. Anderson is still only 29 years old, so he could have a few more solid years left. He'd be a good fallback plan if Lawrence Guy signs elsewhere.

Bailey's snap count fell to 39 percent in 2020, a career low for any season he played more than 10 games. The Patriots could certainly give him a competitive offer at this point in his career. He's a Drew Rosenhaus client, so there's a Belichick connection there. He'd be an intriguing pickup for a defensive line that can use any kind of reinforcements.

The Patriots aren't exactly thin at running back, with Damien Harris and Sony Michel still under contract. But unless one of those two becomes the new passing down back, the Patriots will need to figure out that spot on the roster. Re-signing James White or Rex Burkhead may be preferable, but Johnson would be a decent plan B to add a receiving back with experience.

Jackson isn't what he once was and has played only eight games over the past two seasons. So the 34-year-old would be the flyer of all flyers at this point in his career. The hope would be that he entered camp as just a veteran gamble, and not one of the leading candidates on the depth chart. Ideally, the Patriots aim way higher at this position.