3 Players the Patriots Won't Be Able to Keep This Offseason

The New England Patriots face an offseason that is sure to bring about a massive change in the structure of this team, as several key starters on both sides of the ball are scheduled for free agency. While a 12-4 record and a division title is nothing to be disappointed about, the Patriots will need to undergo a major facelift next season, and these three players are prime candidates to be excluded from the 2020 squad.

3. S Patrick Chung

New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Chung remains one of the best free safeties in the game when he's healthy, but his availability is becoming more of a question mark with each passing year. Chung was on the field for 64% of snaps last season, his lowest total since he rejoined the Patriots in 2014. With a $6 million cap hit next year and plenty of depth in New England's excellent secondary, Bill Belichick might make the difficult decision to part ways with Chung to save some money.

2. OG Joe Thuney

New England Patriots guard Joe Thuney / Mark Brown/Getty Images

Thuney may not have the brand name recognition of some of the top tier offensive guards in football, but he is right up there with the best of them. PFF constantly rates Thuney as one of the best run blocking and pass blocking offensive linemen in all of football, and he could command a contract that makes him one of the highest paid guards in the league. Belichick rarely, if ever, overpays in free agency, so the former North Carolina State could take the Nate Solder route and sign a huge contract away from New England.

1. QB Tom Brady

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady / Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

The writing is on the wall, as Brady has seemingly grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of quality wide receivers provided to him in New England. With his legacy as one of the greatest players ever already secure and the roster around him in New England not as formidable as some of the other elite teams in the league, Brady could look to play his final one or two seasons elsewhere, preferably for a team that pays him a contract commiserate with his market value as a player. Brady in a Buccaneers or Raiders jersey might look weird, but it's possible.