National Football League

New England Patriots free agency preview: Key is keeping Darrelle Revis

Published Mar. 2, 2015 9:37 a.m. ET

Ross Jones

Fresh off a Super Bowl win, the New England Patriots have turned their focus on repeating. Naturally, there will be turnover.

With cornerback Darrelle Revis carrying a $25 million cap hit, the Patriots will have to weigh the pros and cons of having an elite, blue-chip cornerback on their defense. Beyond that, safety Devin McCourty is a free agent and is likely to be given the franchise tag.

How they finished:

2014: 12-4 -- Won the Super Bowl

2013: 12-4 -- Lost in the conference championship against Denver

Projected salary cap space as of Feb. 1 (per Spotrac.com): projected -$4.5M

Potential free-agency targets: In what would be another against-the-grain, talent-rules-all acquisition, the Patriots could add game-changing threat Percy Harvin, CBS Sports reported last week. Harvin, of course, would have to be cut by the Jets.

Potential cap casualties: The Patriots have until April 1 to reach an agreement with Revis on an extension to lower his cap number. If the two sides can't find a way to get it done, the Patriots would likely release him then as he'd be due a $12 million roster bonus April 1.

Offseason needs: DT, WR and RB

Notable free agents:

CB Darrelle Revis

FS Devin McCourty

K Stephen Gostkowski

LB Akeem Ayers

DL Alan Branch

RB Stevan Ridley

RB Shane Vereen

LB Jonathan Casillas