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Welcome to the offseason, where we begin to look ahead by glancing back.

To the confetti, the raising of the Lombardi trophy, the celebratory scene in Atlanta when the Patriots won Super Bowl LIII. Two days later, the Pats paraded around Boston and shared a brilliant afternoon with 1.5 million adoring fans. And then within hours, New England turned the page to its 2019 season.

So how can the Patriots repeat?

Here are 10 offseason steps they can and should take to reach Super Bowl LIV in Miami.

But first, a few notes ...

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1. None of the following steps mentions replenishing the defensive coaching staff, which will be critical and must happen soon.

2. Each of them has been purposed strictly for repeating, which is not the Patriots' only objective. Their front office operates with sustained success in mind. For example, New England currently employs 21 players in the final year of their contracts, some of whom will surely be extended before they hit free agency in 2020.

But for this exercise, unless an extension can yield significant and immediate cap room, it can wait.

Along those lines, the first three steps are all motivated by the idea of creating 2019 cap space, which should be the starting point of the Patriots' plans. New England's financial flexibility will determine its offseason possibilities, even while key factors (the potential retirements of Rob Gronkowski and Devin McCourty) remain out of their control. Presently, the Pats rank in the bottom half of the NFL in cap room (roughly $18.1 million, per Miguel Benzan).

Expect that figure to rise soon. (Remember, New England usually reserves at least $3-4 million in cap space heading into the regular season and signing its 2019 draft picks will require roughly the same amount of dough.)

3. That all said, New England is never "all in" for one season at the expense of another, so all 10 moves below have been kept within the realm of possibility. The Pats won't leave their future in the lurch, even with Tom Brady turning 42 this summer. But here's how, starting with Brady, that future can get off to a Super start.

All cap information courtesy of Spotrac.com.

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1. EXTEND

QB Tom Brady

Brady's current contract takes him through the 2019 season. He's set to count for a team-high $27 million against the cap. That figure can come down through an extension, with New England stretching his money over added years. Patriots owner Robert Kraft said prior to the Super Bowl he would be surprised if Brady wasn't leading the Patriots "for quite a while."

Me too.

LB Kyle Van Noy

On the Patriots' 2019 cap sheet, Van Noy ranks 10th with a cap hit of $5.9 million and eighth in base salary at $4.25 million. Like Brady, the team can lower both of those figures by agreeing to an extension. It won't save New England much, but every dollar counts in an offseason where so many competitors are swimming in cap space.

Plus at this stage, Van Noy's earned a new deal.

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2. RESTRUCTURE

S Devin McCourty

This will be tricky. Should McCourty choose to return, it seems unlikely he'll accept anything less than the $9.5 million he's due in 2019. He's a longtime captain of a defense that's won three Super Bowls under his watch. He controls all coverage and checks from his deep safety position and has been remarkably reliable during his nine-year career.

The only leverage New England may be able to create is offering to spend the money that McCourty would save them to retain his brother, Jason, now a free agent. Otherwise, 31-year-old Devin is set to count $13.435 million against the cap, which may be unviable from the Patriots' perspective. The best option here is to seek a restructure, perhaps pushing money into a future that may or may not exist and/or replacing it with incentives.

LB Dont'a Hightower

Last season, Hightower played in 15 regular-season games for just the second time in his career, but still doesn't quite command the near $8.5 million he's set to earn next year. Worse yet for the Patriots, he'll count $10.945 million against the cap, the fifth-most of any rostered player. While a highly respected and valuable member of the team, Hightower is not a top-five player in New England and arguably was not on the 2018 defense.

Time to restructure.

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3. CUT PAY OR CUT OUTRIGHT

TE Dwayne Allen

If there's any player on the Patriots' roster who is a lock to either be released or take a pay cut, it's Allen. He's set to count $7.3 million against the cap and releasing him would incur zero dead money. This is perhaps New England's easiest call of the offseason, one you can expect the front office to make before Allen earns a sizable roster bonus in mid-March.

DE Adrian Clayborn

The difference between keeping Clayborn and releasing him is roughly $4 million, which forces the Patriots to ask themselves whether or not his play will make up that difference in 2019. Or could they receive similar production elsewhere for cheaper?

As a third-down specialist, Clayborn produced of the highest pressure rates on the defense. However, the veteran rusher was also benched the final two weeks of the regular season because he's a liability against mobile quarterbacks. With Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield and Dak Prescott accounting for six of the 13 opposing quarterbacks matchups New England will face next season, could that factor in?

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Adrian Clayborn had a tough time containing Mitch Trubisky back in Week 9. Might have played into the decision to make him inactive against Josh Allen and the Bills. — Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) December 23, 2018

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4. ENGAGE WITH TREY FLOWERS UNTIL THE END

The easy move here would be to re-write the headline as "Re-sign Trey Flowers," explain his tremendous value to the Pats and throw out a few figures that should get the job done.

The truth is luring Flowers back in is not so simple. He's stepping foot into the open market as an elite, yet still ascending edge defender in his physical prime, a former fourth-round pick ready to strike it rich.

Spotrac currently calculates his market value at $15.3 million per year. Considering all New England factors current and historic, that figure may be too rich for the team's liking. Plus, other franchises flush with cap space are guaranteed to be willing to overspend (including the rival Jets and Colts).

The only thing that may slightly help New England's chances is the depth of edge defenders available this offseason through free agency and the draft. The former could eliminate a few suitors, and the latter may provide a nice fallback option if he signs elsewhere. Either way, the Patriots should stress to Flowers' camp they want to stay engaged until the moment pen hits paper. Ensure they have a spot at the table and do everything they can to persuade him their deal and his fit in Foxborough trumps whatever the competition can offer.

Flowers is far and away their best front-seven defender, as versatile a D-lineman as you'll find and he finished as New England's leader in sacks and QB hits each of the last three seasons. You don't let a talent like that get away — unless spending the money to retain him hurts your chances of repeating next season.

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5. SIGN GOLDEN TATE, TARGET OTHER VETERAN WIDEOUTS

OK, now we're on NFL Writer Easy Street.

The suggestion of signing Tate reeks of uninformed, armchair GM, and I get that. He's the best available wideout, and New England's greatest need is at receiver. These are two dots anyone could connect.

But unless Tate and his agent scare away potential suitors with their asking price, the Patriots make more sense as a potential landing spot than anyone.

First, the Pats' interest is as defined their need: Three and a half short months ago, they attempted to acquire him at the trade deadline. Second, while Tate is free agency's No. 1 wide receiver, he's truly a No. 2 at this stage of his career and will turn 31 in August. This will not be a long-term investment that hamstrings New England's cap for years to come.

Third, he sounds willing to take a team-friendly deal. Here's Tate after the Eagles' divisional-round loss in New Orleans, via NBC Sports Philadephia: "I want to get back to going deep in the playoffs and winning Super Bowls. In Detroit, I've had a bunch of really great stats but no playoff wins. I know what talent I have and I know what I bring to the table, but at the end of the day, it's about winning playoff games and getting to Super Bowls.

"And that’s what I want to do. With me going into Year 10, the stats … they’re whatever."

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Spotrac projects Tate's market value at $10.2 million. Again, I wouldn't expect New England to play ball at that figure, but how about a two-year, $17-18 million deal? His last contract averaged $6.2 million per season.

If the two sides can't come to an agreement, expect the Patriots to restock their receiving corps with veterans. Their offensive system is notoriously difficult for wideouts to master, and now is not the time to surround Brady with rookies. Only Julian Edelman is under contract for the 2019 season.

Free-agent names I would keep an eye on: former Bucanneer Adam Humphries (who may end up landing a longer, more lucrative deal than Tate), former Cardinal and Raven John Brown, and former Charger/Bear/Colt Dontrelle Inman.

As for New England's free-agent wideouts, I'd be surprised to see Chris Hogan return. Phillip Dorsett, while beloved in the facility and crazy efficient on a per-snap basis, disappears too often. And Cordarrelle Patterson became more gadget player than true wideout in 2018.

We'll address Patterson's situation later.

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6. PURSUE HENRY ANDERSON, A FIRST-ROUND DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Big, versatile, under-the-radar. Sounds like a Patriot, no?

Well, last year Henry Anderson was a Jet, and he flourished on a one-year, prove-it deal with a floundering team. In 16 games, Anderson totaled 48 pressures, per Pro Football Focus, and graded out as the league's 35th-best defensive tackle.

At 6-foot-6, 301 pounds, Anderson could plug the open interior spot in New England's defense or kick outside when the unit wants to beef up its front by turning to base 3-4 personnel. As for that open starting position, both Malcom Brown and Danny Shelton are free agents who seem unlikely to both re-sign in 2019.

Until the Super Bowl, Brown was highly unproductive, and Shelton was outright benched for multiple regular-season games. The Patriots also declined to pick up their respective fifth-year options heading into the season.

Cheaper veterans to keep in mind: former Texan Christian Covington (top-20 PFF pass rush grade for DTs), former Jet run stuffer Steve McLendon (29th-ranked DT by PFF) and former Bengal and Bronco Domata Peko.

If none of the above become Patriots, the draft is loaded with defensive tackle talent including four potential top-10 picks, plus probable first-rounders Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins, Dre'Mont Jones and Jerry Tillery. And under Bill Belichick, no New England position group has been infused with more first-round draft picks than the defensive line.

See: Malcom Brown (2015), Dominique Easley (2014), Chandler Jones (2012), Vince Wilfork (2004), Ty Warren (2003) and Richard Seymour (2001).

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Henry Anderson racked up 48 total pressures in 2018 – ranking tied for 12th at his position. pic.twitter.com/ALHA0lnF05 — PFF (@PFF) February 2, 2019

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7. CONVINCE GRONK TO STAY

Rob Gronkowski said minutes after Super Bowl LIII he would take a few weeks to decide his future. From the Patriots' perspective, they should keep their fingers crossed for one outcome: he sticks around.

Now there would be obstacles to clear (namely his upcoming $11.86 million cap hit amid a career decline), but there are concessions New England can make in exchange for a reworked contract. The team can continue to cut back on his workload in training camp and during practice, perhaps give him the entire preseason off.

And there is surprising precedent for this: Former Giants and Browns tight end Mark Bavaro told Boston Sports Journal that Belichick curtailed his practice reps to extend his career. Why can't Gronk sit out like Bavardo once did?

He's certainly earned the right. Gronkowski still blocks like few tight ends can ever dream of, which unlocks a world of possibilities for the Pats' running game. He's a receiving mismatch against linebackers. That dual-threat ability keeps New England's offense threatening and unpredictable, particularly when operating out of 12, 21 or 22 personnel.

Reportedly, Gronkowski was as healthy for Super Bowl LIII as he was at anytime during the season, and that led to six catches for 87 yards versus a top-five defense against tight ends. Gronk also secured the most critical catch of the night, just as he did in the AFC Championship Game two weeks earlier. Imagine that type of production over just 12 games next season (he's sure to miss a few).

It sure would go a long way to a repeat.

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8. DRAFT GRONK'S REPLACEMENT

So let's assume Gronk returns for one more go-round. New England should still invest in the position.

If Dwayne Allen isn't brought back on a cheaper deal, Gronkowski is the only imposing blocker left in their position room (outside of perhaps 2018 seventh-rounder Ryan Izzo). Jacob Hollister and Stephen Anderson are both of the move or "F" tight end variety.

Thankfully for the Patriots, like defensive tackle, the tight end group in this year's draft class is reportedly loaded. Iowa's T.J. Hockenson, who won the 2018 John Mackey Award as college football's best tight end, could be a fit. He's made in the classic tight end mold, capable of moving defenders in the run game and.

You can read more on Hockenson here.

Otherwise, Alabama's Irv Smith, Georgia's Isaac Nauta and San Jose State's Josh Oliver are names to remember in this early stage of draft season.

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9. RETAIN AT LEAST TWO SPECIAL TEAMS STARS

Patterson, kicker Stephen Gostkowski and punter Ryan Allen are all free agents.

I can't speak to the likelihood of any of them returning individually, only their surrounding circumstances. From that standpoint, it seems most likely that Allen will return. There are no lefty punters in this year's free-agent punter class or at the top of the draft. Allen also performed exceptionally in the playoffs.

As for Gostkowski, he missed more field goals of 40 yards or more this season than in any of his career. And that's not a function of more attempts. His 11 attempts from that distance were a career low for a full season dating back to 2009. By missing a first-quarter field goal in Super Bowl LIII, he's now missed a kick in the final game of the Patriots' 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 campaigns.

It's also possible Gostkowski prices himself out of New England, particularly with around 20 other kickers on the market and more in the draft. The least we can say is the Pats appear to have more leverage than they probably expected to back in the summer.

Lastly, Patterson deserves a new deal. He provides an instant boost to the Patriots' return game, has established himself as one of league's most dangerous ball carriers, can play traditional receiver (in a limited role) and serve as an emergency running back. Throw in his positive locker-room presence and the likelihood he won't command a huge contract, Patterson should be a second-tier priority for the Patriots.

Get it done.

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10. BUILD OFFENSIVE TACKLE DEPTH THROUGH THE DRAFT

There's an argument to be made that offensive tackle depth saved New England's 2018 Super Bowl hopes. First-round rookie Isaiah Wynn was in a position competition at left tackle this summer before tearing his Achilles. Had the Patriots not traded for Trent Brown just hours after selecting Wynn, they would've been in serious trouble on Brady's blind side.

Instead, Brown developed into one of the better left tackles in the league despite a position change. Now a free agent, he should land a monster contract, almost assuredly with another team. In that case, the Patriots ought to draft another tackle to provide depth with veteran LaAdrian Waddle behind Wynn and Marcus Cannon.

With a $7.45 million cap hit, the soon-to-be 31-year old Cannon is another candidate to receive a restructure and/or release. In that case, New England will definitely be happy it secured a young, talented tackle to help replace him.