The New England Patriots stayed busy during the first week of free agency, adding six new players to their 90-man roster.

With things starting to slow down a bit in the first wave of free agency, let's go through the Patriots' biggest winners and losers from last week.

Overall, it was a promising start to the offseason for New England, which still has some moves to make in the 2023 NFL Draft.

WINNER

Mac Jones’ physical well-being

The Patriots didn’t make a big move to improve their offensive line, but they did add a starter in right tackle Riley Reiff and improved their depth by signing Calvin Anderson and re-signing Conor McDermott.

New England’s offensive tackle depth got so shallow last season that they had to sign McDermott off the New York Jets’ practice squad and insert him as a starter. Now there are layers of depth before the Patriots would have to make a drastic move. New England should still look to draft their left tackle of the future this year, as well.

At the very least, Jones should be better protected in 2023 with Reiff, Anderson and new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm helping out.

LOSER

Members of the 2021 free-agent class

The Patriots’ big signings in 2021 were wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, pass rushers Matthew Judon and Kyle Van Noy, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and cornerback Jalen Mills. Bourne, Henry, Judon and Godchaux remain, so the entire free-agency class from two years ago doesn’t qualify as a loser. But Agholor is still unsigned in free agency, Smith was traded for a seventh-round pick, Van Noy was cut after one year and Mills was released this offseason.

It’s tough to build a sustainably winning team through free agency. The Patriots currently are set to have over $131 million in salary cap space in 2024. That means they might be having another spending spree in free agency. It might be smarter to re-up some of their young players like safety Kyle Dugger, right guard Michael Owenu and pass rusher Josh Uche instead of bringing in outside talent.

WINNER

Bill Belichick, the GM

Belichick deserves specific credit for signing tight end Mike Gesicki to a one-year, $4.5 million contract after the pass catcher played on the franchise tag last season. Gesicki can earn an additional $4.5 million through incentives, so it’s still possible he can play for $9 million, but the Patriots are making him earn it.

The JuJu Smith-Schuster contract was also a relative bargain at three years, $25.5 million. Not to harp on 2021, but that’s much better value than signing Agholor for two years, $22 million two years ago.

LOSER

Patriots running backs drafted in 2022

The Patriots signed James Robinson in free agency before they even lost Damien Harris. Pierre Strong, a 2022 fourth-round pick, and Kevin Harris, a 2022 sixth-round pick, will need to earn playing time over Robinson and Rhamondre Stevenson, which might not be easy.

WINNER

Patriots cornerbacks drafted in 2022

The Patriots, conversely, have only lost cornerback depth since the end of last season by releasing Jalen Mills. New England undoubtedly will add more help at the position through the second wave of free agency or in the draft, but this bodes well for 2022 third-round pick Marcus Jones and 2022 fourth-round pick Jack Jones in their development. Even if the Patriots add another cornerback, both Joneses could wind up starting in 2023.

LOSER

Anyone waiting for a splash move

There's still time, but the Patriots didn't trade for cornerback Jalen Ramsey or Darius Slay, and they held back from acquiring wide receiver Brandin Cooks. They also didn't add an offensive lineman on a massive $20 million per year deal.

Time will tell if the Patriots have a DeAndre Hopkins or Jerry Jeudy trade in them. But so far, it's been relatively minor moves to improve the 2023 roster.

WINNER

Special teams

The Patriots don't have a punter. So, that's one area that needs to be addressed after releasing Jake Bailey. But they re-signed Matthew Slater, Cody Davis, Mack Wilson, Raekwon McMillan and Jabrill Peppers and added Chris Board to the roster. With a solid punter/kickoff specialist (likely added through the draft), New England's special teams will be back on solid footing.