After getting hired a year ago, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel immediately overhauled the roster.
So, what might be in store this offseason?
The Patriots are positioned to have more continuity, as only six players are slated to hit unrestricted free agency.
Although they won’t have as much flexibility as they did last year, when they doled out a league-high $192.9 million in guaranteed money, the Patriots still have enough salary-cap space to make a splash. Their $42.7 million ranks 11th in the NFL.
“We’re looking for the better, younger, cheaper player every day,” Vrabel said Tuesday. “The players that we have are trying to not let that happen. That’s the dynamic. That’s the business of the National Football League.”
Let’s take a look at some of the pending decisions …
Unrestricted free agency
Once the legal tampering period opens at noon on March 9, the representatives for these players are free to negotiate with any team. Contracts can be signed starting at 4 p.m. on March 11.
Edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson: When the Patriots signed Chaisson to a one-year, $3 million contract, they expected him to serve as a situational pass rusher. He ended up earning a starting role, playing 62.7 percent of the defense’s snaps and registering a career-high 7½ sacks. Chaisson, who will turn 27 in July, outplayed his contract and will likely cash in this offseason. Pass rush remains an offseason priority for the Patriots, so they’ll be interested in retaining Chaisson. The question is, at what cost?
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins: The Patriots parted ways with Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers to make way for the starting safety duo of Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson. Hawkins stepped up with a career year, recording 71 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 5 quarterback hits, and 1½ sacks. He didn’t miss a snap in 10 games this season. The Patriots don’t have much depth at safety — core special teamer Dell Pettus would be the next man up — so they should want to re-sign Hawkins. He has said he would like to return, citing the closeness of the locker room. Hawkins will turn 29 in August.
Tight end Austin Hooper: Hunter Henry was the star tight end, catching 60 passes for a career-high 768 yards and seven touchdowns. Hooper, meanwhile, played 46.8 percent of the offense’s snaps, operating more as a run blocker and tertiary pass-catching option. The Patriots should aim to get younger at tight end — Henry and Hooper are 31 — so moving on probably makes the most sense.
Offensive tackle Vederian Lowe: When rookie left tackle Will Campbell was sidelined with his MCL sprain, Lowe started four games. He allowed one sack and 15 pressures over that stretch, according to Pro Football Focus. Lowe’s performance demonstrated marked improvement from his woes last season, so much so that the Patriots should want to keep him as a backup. At 26, Lowe also is one of the younger free agent tackles available.
Offensive tackle Thayer Munford: Munford served as New England’s primary sixth offensive lineman/jumbo tight end. The Patriots have other options (Ben Brown and Marcus Bryant) to fill that role, if they choose to part ways.
Nose tackle Khyiris Tonga: Tonga was one of New England’s best finds in free agency, contributing as a stout run defender and as a run blocker. He outplayed his one-year, $2.7 million contract, but likely did not price himself out of a return. Tonga, who will turn 30 in July, has said he would like to stay.
Restricted free agency
Restricted free agents are able to negotiate and sign with any team, but the Patriots will first have the opportunity to tender them at a variety of levels. If the Patriots do not tender a player, he becomes an unrestricted free agent. If Patriots tender a player who ends up receiving an offer elsewhere then, depending on the tender used, they would receive the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation.
The Patriots, for example, retained linebacker Christian Elliss last offseason because they used a right-of-first-refusal tender on him and later matched an offer sheet from the Raiders.
The five RFAs are linebacker Jack Gibbens, cornerback Alex Austin, quarterback Tommy DeVito, tackle Yasir Durant, and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy. Of this group, Gibbens might be the only player worth a right-of-first-refusal tender. The value of this tender has yet to be released, but is projected to be a one-year, $3.5 million contract.
Exclusive-rights free agency
If the Patriots sign an exclusive-rights free agent to a league-minimum contract, the player cannot negotiate with other teams. The three ERFAs are fullback Jack Westover, defensive lineman Isaiah Iton, and running back Deneric Prince.
Other looming contractual decisions
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez: Gonzalez, who will turn 24 in June, is eligible for a contract extension. He is on track to become the highest-paid cornerback in the league, surpassing Sauce Gardner (average annual value: $30.1 million) and Derek Stingley Jr. ($30 million). On Tuesday, Gonzalez affirmed his interest in staying in New England but declined to share details on what type of deal he’s seeking. Said Gonzalez, “I’m not really trying to get into all of that. It’s kind of more my agents. They’ll deal with that and keep me up to speed on it.”
Remaining members of the 2022 draft class: Kayshon Boutte, Bryce Baringer, DeMario Douglas, and Marte Mapu are also extension-eligible. None will command anything close to Gonzalez’s projected deal, but Boutte could be worth locking up now. He’s only 23 and has proven to be a viable downfield threat for Drake Maye.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs: After the Super Bowl, Diggs said he anticipates staying in New England unless the Patriots opt out of his contract. There are two years remaining on Diggs’s deal, but the Patriots can cut him after June 1 to free up $20.8 million in cap space and create $5.7 million in dead money. Although Diggs exceeded expectations this season with 85 catches for 1,013 receiving yards, there are questions regarding his ability to keep up his production with age. He also has an arraignment scheduled for Feb. 13 following an alleged incident with his personal chef. If the Patriots move on from Diggs, Alec Pierce is among the free agents they could sign to bolster their wide receiver corps.
Defensive tackle Christian Barmore: Barmore has an arraignment scheduled for March 9 following an alleged domestic incident. If the Patriots cut Barmore after June 1, they would free up $11.5 million in cap space while creating $5.6 million in dead money. If they trade him, they would free up $13.5 million while creating $3.6 million in dead money.
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com. Follow her on X @nicolecyang.