New England Patriots links 2/19/25 - 2025 Free Agency: Pats have plenty of needs, plenty of cash

Daily news and links for Wednesday.

TEAM TALK

• Patriots 2025 Mock Draft Tracker.
• Evan Lazar’s NFL pre-combine Draft tiers: Rankings of the options for the Patriots at No. 4 overall.
• **Evan Lazar’**s NFL Draft Tiers: A pre-Combine ranking of the Wide Receiver class.
• Paul Perillo’s NFL Notes: Eagles about more than just the bottom line; More.
• Patriots Unfiltered: Combine prep, draft talk; Plus, talk about the Football Hall of Fame, the Patriots latest podcasting endeavor and more! (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Andrew Callahan’s NFL notes: 8 Patriots offseason questions that will shape free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. 1. How much will the Patriots spend in free agency?
• Doug Kyed’s Patriots mailbag: How to properly rank offseason needs in free agency, draft.
• Mark Daniels discusses the Patriots’ need to fix their tackle situation, and suggests five free agent tackles that fit the bill.
• Mark Daniels writes another start of free agency means the Patriots are again looking for a top-flight receiver. Here are 5 talented wide receivers who would help the team.
• Clare Cooper addresses the sneaky need at the tight end position for the Patriots.
• Mark Daniels identifies 5 free agent tight ends who could help the Patriots.
• Chris Mason relays ESPN insider Matt Bowen’s “best team fits” for his top 50 free agents, and tabbed the Patriots for Jets cornerback D.J. Reed (No. 4).
• Alex Barth’s 2025 Draft Profiles: Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter - Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan.
• Luke Graham reports Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders confirms meeting with teams drafting ahead of the Patriots.
• Alex Barth identifies the biggest question facing each top prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.
• Karen Guregian hears from Bill O’Brien on why he sees Drake Maye excelling in Josh McDaniels’ system.
• Nick O’Malley tells us special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer ran with the bulls in Spain last year.
• Nick O’Malley tells us what the experts are saying nationally about who the Pats will draft at No. 4.
• Nick O’Malley catches us up with what former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch is doing these days.
• Luke Graham notes Bill Belichick offered a UNC athletic scholarship to Legarrette Blount Jr.
• Conor Ryan notes that after spending the last five seasons on the Patriots’ coaching staff, Troy Brown is moving on to the Giants in 2025.
• Luke Graham mentions former Patriots TE Martellus Bennett auctioned off his 28-3 Super Bowl ring for $88,125.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Clare Cooper go deep on the Patriots tight ends. (40 min.)
• Alex Barth and Matt Dolloff react to the Bengals reportedly franchise tagging WR Tee Higgins, and other NFL offseason rumors. Plus, early thoughts on the NFL Combine. (30 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Staff (Yahoo! Sports) NFL offseason previews: 32 teams’ needs, free agents, draft picks, salary cap space and more.
• Around the NFL (NFL.com) 2025 NFL free agency: Free...