Bill Belichick has big decisions looming regarding his roster. 

Sorry Patriots fans but if you were hoping for a repeat of the 2007 off-season, this off-season, you’re out of luck. Don’t expect Bill Belichick to go on a shopping spree like he did that off-season. 

Here’s why. Belichick will have some big decisions to make this off-season and especially next off-season. The most notable free agents for the Patriots this off-season are LeGarrette Blount and Akiem Hicks. Blount is a goner. I would be shocked if he re-signed with the Patriots. Hicks is an intriguing player who played well the last month of the season and offers the position versatility and athleticism Bill Belichick desires along the defensive line. I suspect the Patriots will try to re-sign him but Hicks will garner interest from other teams. That being said, both Blount and Hicks are replaceable. 

The reason Belichick can’t go shopping this off-season is because the Patriots have several key players that will be free agents next off-season. Among them are included:

Dont’a Hightower (UFA)

Jaime Collins (UFA)

Chandler Jones (UFA)

Logan Ryan (UFA)

Sebastian Vollmer (UFA)

Rob Ninkovich (UFA)

Matthew Slater (UFA)

Jabaal Sheard (UFA)

Jonathan Freeny (UFA)

Malcolm Butler (RFA)

In addition,  Marcus Cannon, Scott Chandler, Brandon LaFell, Brandon Bolden and Aaron Dobson are also free agents in 2017. There is a good chance however that the Patriots will move on from all of these guys this off-season with the exception of Bolden and possibly Cannon (Sorry Pats fans).

As you can see, the Patriots can ill-afford to spend freely this off-season. They will once again be shopping in the bargain bin. Re-signing defensive stalwarts like Hightower, Collins, Jones and Ninkovich is a priority. The reality is however, they probably won’t be able to pay them all. Belichick will have to prioritize who he wants to pay. My guess is he’ll want to pay Hightower and Collins before Jones and Ninkovich. The two inside linebackers are more important to the overall structure of the defense. 

The Patriots are in a bind, especially because they don’t have a first round pick in this up coming draft. Belichick is going to have to be creative in terms of acquiring players. He will have to make some difficult choices on veterans already on the roster and he will need to find some quality players in this draft that can contribute immediately. Either way you look at it, Belichick the personnel man will be tested this off-season and next off-season. The decisions he makes will have long term ramifications for the Patriots.