The unofficial start of free agency begins today. Free agency officially begins on Wednesday but teams can negotiate with unrestricted free agents as of today. The Patriots are flushed with cap space and have multiple needs. Here are their top five needs and who the best fit would be to fill them .

1. Wide Receiver: The Patriots need to upgrade at wide receiver, that was abundantly clear last season. The free agent wide receiver class is loaded with name cache. Kenny Golliday, Ju-Ju-Smith Schuster, Curtis Samuel, Corey Davis are among the names that headline this group but the guy that I think best fits what the Patriots do is Samuel. He can play in the slot and out of the backfield. Samuel has played both running back and wide receiver and is a versatile piece that can be used in a myriad of ways. Samuel has also played with Cam Newton so their is a built in rapport there. At 5-11 195, Samuel has the size and the speed to play anywhere in a formation and create match-ups. The Patriots desperately need that type of player in this offense.

2. Tight End: Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith are the two primary targets in free agency for the Patriots. Henry has been linked to the Patriots because Bill Belichick openly gushed about him last season but truth be told, Smith is a better fit for the Patriots. New England invested heavily in the position last off-season with Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene and they have Matt LaCosse coming back after opting out last season. They need a move tight end that create match-ups for them in the red zone. Both Henry and Smith can do that but from a formation flexibility standpoint, Smith is a better fit and a cheaper option. That’s why we think he will be the Patriots target. Gerald Everett and Dan Arnold are two potential outside the box options.

3. Defensive Tackle: With Lawrence Guy and Adam Butler both free agents, the Patriots first preference would be to bring both back. If they cannot, they will target a veteran such as Jonathan Hankins. A big body shade tackle who can play over the center and the guard. The Patriots struggled against the run last season and part of the reason was their inability to control the line of scrimmage. Belichick will look to change that in free agency and the draft.  Dalvin Tomlinson, Sheldon Rankins and Davon Godchaux are other names to keep an eye on.

4. Linebacker: Even with the return of Dont’a Hightower, the Patriots are woefully thin at linebacker, especially inside. The Patriots could address this need in the draft but Belichick prefers veterans play linebacker in his defense. He just trusts them more than rookies. It is kind of like Jon Gruden with quarterbacks. There are several veteran linebackers available both inside and outside that could step in and help right away. Denzel Perryman is one of the best run stoppers in the league and will garner plenty of interest in the open market. Former Raven Tyus Bowser could be an intriguing outside linebacker option. The Patriots could splurge here but Belichick values consistency at this position not just flashy production.

5. EDGE: It is hard to identify what Belichick looks for in this position because the Patriots do so much with their outside linebacker/defensive ends. If Belichick is looking for a pure pass rusher, there are plenty of big names available. From Matthew Judon to Melvin Ingram to Carlos Dunlap, there are speed rushers aplenty in this class. If he is looking for a cheaper, productive option. Former Jet Jordan Jenkins and former Bengal Carl Lawson are both possibilities. Both will command decent contracts in open market but not the biggest. Former 49er Kerry Hyder is an intriguing option because he can play end and tackle in sub packages. Reminds me a little of Adam Butler.

I didn’t put quarterback on the list because I cannot imagine Belichick bringing in a quarterback in free agency to compete with Newton. I think the Patriots are going to address the quarterback position in the draft. That is not to say they wouldn’t explore bringing in another veteran. After all, with Belichick you never know. One thing we do know is, he is going to spend money. This week should be fun for Patriots fans.