The 2023 offseason has been full of what-ifs for the New England Patriots. They have gotten close to adding a few impact players to the roster, but have continually fallen short in their pursuits.

Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins opted to sign with the Tennessee Titans instead of the Patriots, as they offered more money upfront. While the grand total could have been similar to what he received from Tennessee, a lot of the contract that New England offered him was based on incentives.

Had they adjusted their contract offer accordingly, the Patriots would have the No. 1 wide receiver they are lacking. Another free agent sweepstakes that they bowed out of is running back Dalvin Cook. Looking for a complement to Rhamondre Stevenson in the backfield, Cook would have been a nice addition to an offense lacking established weapons.

Last but not least, the Patriots also swung and missed on bringing back a familiar face. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, New England was interested in bringing back cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

Gilmore was made available earlier this offseason by the Indianapolis Colts. The two sides agreed to mutually part ways as the Colts embarked on a rebuild and wanted the extra salary cap space. Alas, New England fell short of that pursuit, as the Dallas Cowboys landed him in a trade.

“I was really excited,” Gilmore said. “This was one of the places I wanted to come, probably my No. 1 place, so I’m happy we got it done.”

Dallas traded a fifth-round pick to Indianapolis to get the deal done. Gilmore won the Defensive Player of the Year award during the 2019 season with the Patriots. He spent four seasons in New England, making the Pro Bowl three times with two First-Team All-Pro selections as well.

Given how his tenure with the team ended, New England probably wasn’t his first choice of where he wanted to be traded. A contract standoff with the team in 2021 resulted in him being traded to the Carolina Panthers, ending his stint with the Patriots on a sour note.