While the rest of the NFL was spending oodles of cash and valuable cap room on free agents over the past week, the New England Patriots were signing players unfamiliar to the average fan.

The Patriots added running back Brandon Bolden, wide receivers Bruce Ellington and Maurice Harris, tight end Matt LaCosse, defensive tackle Mike Pennel and safety Terrence Brooks. Among those six players, Pennel is expected to make the greatest impact in 2019, although he was an under-the-radar signing himself.

The Patriots also re-signed three of their own in wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, defensive end John Simon and cornerback Jason McCourty while allowing defensive end Trey Flowers, offensive tackles Trent Brown and LaAdrian Waddle, defensive tackle Malcom Brown, wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson and cornerback Eric Rowe to walk in free agency.

The following players are still free agents: punter Ryan Allen, kicker Stephen Gostkowski, running back Jeremy Hill, wide receivers Chris Hogan and Cody Hollister, linebackers Ramon Humber and Albert McClellan, offensive tackle Ulrick John and defensive tackle Danny Shelton.

Let’s go position by position and assess the Patriots’ level of need at each:

QUARTERBACK

Tom Brady

Brian Hoyer

Danny Etling

Unless you’re related to Etling, then you can look at this list and see the Patriots still need a quarterback of the future. Brady keeps saying he wants to play until he’s 45 years old, and he’ll *only* be 42 this season. It would be ideal to draft or trade for a young quarterback this offseason. But the Patriots also probably could wait another year.

Level of need: Existent but not urgent

RUNNING BACK

Sony Michel

James White

Rex Burkhead

Brandon Bolden

The Patriots could absolutely go into the 2019 season with these four running backs. They should, however, either draft or sign one or two more players for competition and insurance purposes. Re-signing Hill also doesn’t seem out of the equation.

Level of need: Low

FULLBACK

James Develin

Expect a rookie free agent with tight end/fullback versatility to be added before training camp.

Level of need: Low

WIDE RECEIVER

Julian Edelman

Phillip Dorsett

Bruce Ellington

Maurice Harris

Braxton Berrios

Damoun Patterson

Matthew Slater

Josh Gordon (restricted free agent)

Brady could make this group work if he needed to, but it would be far less than ideal. The Patriots should sign a veteran player with past production. Names like Hogan, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Aldrick Robinson, Jermaine Kearse or Dontrelle Inman would work. They also should double-dip at the position in the 2019 NFL Draft. We’d like to see them take a player in the second and fourth round.

Level of need: Very high

TIGHT END

Rob Gronkowski

Matt LaCosse

Ryan Izzo

Stephen Anderson

Jacob Hollister

Will Gronkowski retire? That’s the biggest question. If he does, this becomes the Patriots’ biggest need. If he doesn’t, then they could potentially push off the position for another year. If Martellus Bennett is serious about playing for cheap in 2019, the Patriots should snag him up.

Level of need: Pretty high

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

LT Isaiah Wynn

RT Marcus Cannon

OL Cole Croston

OT Ryker Mathews

OT Dan Skipper

Unless the Patriots know something about Croston, Mathews and Skipper the rest of us don’t, then they need two backup offensive tackles. It would make sense to draft a future right tackle pretty early and sign a veteran swing tackle. Re-signing John would make some sense.

Level of need: High

GUARD/CENTER

LG Joe Thuney

C David Andrews

RG Shaq Mason

G/C Ted Karras

G Brian Schwenke

C James Ferentz

OL Cole Croston

C Jake Eldrenkamp

Thuney is a free agent after the season. If a quality player is available at the right spot in the draft, the Patriots could address this need early. If not, then they could wait until 2020.