Insert the ‘well, this is no good. This is no good.’ Seinfled gif here.

The ‘legal’ fee agency tampering period technically begins Monday and teams can officially begin signing players to their new contracts when the 2025 league year starts Wednesday. Although, those are just some rough dates these days as teams have already started negotiating with some deals already getting done on paper. Unfortunately for Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf and the rest of the Patriots organization, they’ve got some added pressure to be successful both during this week’s proceedings and the draft.

Of course, this team already had plenty of pressure on them having gone 8-26 the last two seasons and missing the playoffs for the last five years. But, with some key free agent and trade targets already coming off the board, New England absolutely has to get the Option B, C, D and F decisions correct while nailing the draft as well.

Ronnie Stanley was target No. 1 and he’s heading back to Baltimore. Tee Higgins was franchised. Myles Garrett signed an extension in Cleveland.

Now, there’s plenty of options that are going to be out there, but just not those top-tier guys. The Patriots have to make sure they’re getting those decisions on the second and third tier guys right, or Drake Maye will not only start to get frustrated, but in today’s day and age you’re going to have to start worrying about him leaving when his rookie deal is up. And, we’ve already seen he’s not afraid to voice his opinions as a strong leader.

I’d like to see Jevon Holland be their No. 1 target heading into free agency at this point as the one ‘big splash.’ Having a safety of his caliber would allow Kyle Dugger to play down in the box more, where he’s clearly more suited. More importantly, the Pats haven’t had a ‘control guy’ on the back end and you’d instantly have a guy who can settle things down.

As far as the obvious needs, one of those tier three guys at this point in his career is Calais Campbell, but I think he can give you value for a very low number. In a locker room that desperately needs veteran leaders, if he’s willing to come here (not many will be), it’s an intriguing name that could help on and off the field, Milton Williams is the top target left and Jonathan Allen along with Jevon Hargrave are all guys I’d be perfectly fine with given what’s left.

Best offensive tackle left is Cam Robinson, but you’re also going to obviously probably have your choice of Campbell or Membu at the draft. I still think you need to solve this problem in free agency rather than in April, which also makes names like Tryon Smith and Joe Noteboom to keep an eye on too.

I was never a believer that Tee Higgins would hit free agency and I don’t think he’s worth $30-plus million dollars per year. Chris Godwin, Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins and Keenan Allen are all out there. Are they on the back nine of their careers? Certainly, but they all fit the same mold as Calais Campbell I referenced earlier. Cheaper (you’re overpaying either way) and can provide help both on and off the field. There’s also a chance you can sign multiple guys instead of making that one big splash. They’re obviously going to take a receiver or two in the draft as well I have to imagine.

Whatever happens, even before free agency starts, the Patriots’ critical offseason laced with pressure to set the course for the Vrabel era somehow now has even more added on given the events of the last few days.