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Offseason in three or fewer words: Mac and D

The Patriots need to build around rookie quarterback Mac Jones -- possibly by giving him a No. 1 option like the Bengals did for Joe Burrow with Ja'Marr Chase -- and fix the defense that didn't force the Bills to punt in each of the last two games against them in 2021. Oh, and get their special teams back to its usual dominant standing. -- Mike Reiss

Mac Jones proved himself to be a player with legitimate upside in a largely successful rookie season. Now it's time for the Patriots to build around their young quarterback. That starts with finding Jones a true No. 1 wide receiver that will allow New England's other playmakers to fall into more suitable roles. There's also work to be done on the other side of the ball following profound beatdowns by the Bills in the season's final weeks. Bill Belichick began life after Brady with a return to the postseason in Year 2 -- making the leap back to true contender status will be an even tougher challenge for the legendary coach.

They have to be excited about what they saw from Mac Jones as a rookie. But he and the offense will be hurt by the loss of Josh McDaniels.

A team that's leveraged stability -- to the degree that's possible in the NFL anyway -- so well for most of the past two decades might be facing something of a cultural upheaval with OC Josh McDaniels already departed and locker room pillars Devin McCourty, Dont'a Hightower, Matthew Slater, James White and Brandon Bolden potentially leaving, too.

There were plenty of positives for the Patriots in 2021. Rookie quarterback Mac Jones played like a mid-level NFL starter with plenty of room to grow, which will be a major benefit for Bill Belichick as he continues to reshape this roster. The defense was also, at times, one of the best units in the NFL. Still, there is a pretty significant gulf between the Patriots and the Bills in the AFC East, as the lopsided result in the wild-card round showed. It will be critical for the Patriots to find a way to accelerate Jones' development in Year 2, with the added challenge of doing so after losing offensive coordinator and play-caller Josh McDaniels to the Las Vegas Raiders.