The New England Patriots need internal changes after failing to make much progress in their rebuild. The team clinched a last-place finish in the AFC East and is on pace to hold the No. 1 overall pick.
For as bad as the current situation is, the Patriots have a few reasons for optimism entering the offseason. Drake Maye is the franchise quarterback. They control their own destiny for the top draft pick and they have nearly $140 million in cap space entering free agency.
New England needs the right leadership around the coaching staff to capitalize on those opportunities, which begs the question of Jerod Mayo’s future as head coach in Foxboro.
For this exercise, we’ll examine where the Patriots could turn for a new offensive coordinator if they choose to move on from Alex Van Pelt. His work in Maye’s development should be commended, though his poor play-calling and overall offensive disfunction could be enough to make a change.
With that, here’s three potential candidates the Patriots could consider this offseason.
JOSH MCDANIELS
This should be the dream scenario for Patriots fans.
Josh McDaniels the head coach? Run. Josh McDaniels the coordinator? New England should be all in (again).
Everyone knows what McDaniels accomplished in lockstep when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick brought championships back to New England. It’s after that era that further solidified McDaniels’ value as a coordinator.
He had Cam Newton on a roll before the veteran got COVID-19 during the 2020 season and brought Mac Jones to a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie during the 2021 season. Maye needs competent play-calling and a trusted quarterbacks coach to inherit his development.
The question becomes whether or not McDaniels wishes to pursue another stint in New England. The Patriots would greatly benefit from his return to the organization.
BRIAN DABOLL
The current New York Giants head coach has ties to the Patriots as the team’s former tight ends coach during championship-winning seasons. He rose to coordinator status with the Buffalo Bills and brought Josh Allen to an upper-tier among NFL quarterbacks.
That offensive prowess earned him the head coaching job with the Giants, though three years in the dysfunctional organization could have him back on the market. If the Patriots could convince him to return to an offensive coordinator role, that would be massive for the growth of an offense in need.
NICK CALEY
This is a tougher sell given that Caley already turned down this position last season, though the Patriots have a slightly easier sell this time around with the chance to work with Maye.
Is that and the offseason assets enough to pry Caley from his role in Sean McVay’s staff with the Los Angeles Rams?
