How do the Patriots plan to address their offseason needs?

As a draft and free agency approach, the Patriots could use upgrades on the edge and offensive line in the coming months.

INDIANAPOLIS - Coming off an impressive and incredible Super Bowl run, the Patriots realize their team needs significant changes.

"I'm proud of our players," executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said Tuesday at the NFL Combine."They bought in quickly. They figured out how to win. But I think everyone on the program knows we still need scraps, so we're going to create as many contests as possible."

While much of the 53-man roster is slated to return, just six unrestricted free agents have the Patriots one or even two moves away from returning to the Super Bowl.They have extensive needs on both sides of the ball.

"We are going to look at every way to try to improve the team," said Wolf."We filled a lot of needs last year and we're still building. We have areas where we feel good about our starters, but maybe the depth isn't where we want it to be. We have areas where we probably need to add starters. I think it's going to be kind of an integrated approach."

Let's take a look at what we learned about the team's plans to improve this offseason...

1. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Patriots use both an early- and late-round draft pick on an edge rusher, addressing one of their biggest flaws.

“I think it’s a pretty deep class at that position,” Wolf said.“It’s obviously an area that our team has a need in, so it’s a good fit.”

According to Wolf, the Patriots are looking for edge rushers with explosiveness, violence, first-step speed and the ability to win in multiple ways.Although New England's pass rush increased its pressure rate and sacks last season, the unit couldn't get after the quarterback consistently and was below average in win rate.

"There has to be violence," coach Mike Vrabel said.It is necessary to change the skill from football and make some obstacles. You must be able to be on the defense. You must be able to play on the football. We know that the defenders are responsible for the most changes in football. So they can affect the quarterback?"

Even if the Patriots can re-sign free agent K'Lavon Chaisson, there is no doubt that they need more speed and power at the position.Wolff said he expects Harold Landry to return, but he suffered a knee injury and missed his last performance at the end of the season.

Options for the Patriots with the 31st overall pick include Texas A&M's Cashius Howell, Miami's Akheem Mesidor, Oklahoma's Mason Thomas and Missouri's Zion Young.

2. It appears the Patriots are open to moving left guard Jared Wilson to center, where he has more experience.

Wilson saw reps at both positions in training camp, but was slotted at left guard.Despite playing center in college, Wilson has held up well at his new position and displayed the athleticism that makes him such an intriguing prospect.

As expected though, Wilson faced a lot of pain.According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed four sacks and 14 pressures in the postseason.Opponents often use New England's left side with two rookies.

So, would it make sense to move Wilson to center?Or do the Patriots want to protect him because they believe that he and quit Will Campbell will jump in Year 2?

"He's never played quarterback before," Lupo said."He's had his good moments and his bad moments, but he's definitely got the physicality to play there and he's got the intelligence and the vocal ability to play center, so I think we're still having those conversations."

Wilson lined up as Garrett Bradbury's backup center all of last season, according to Verbal.Bradbury, who turns June 31, is under contract through 2026, but the Patriots could release him with minimal financial implications.They will only get $1.2 million in dead money and free up $5.7 million in salary cap space.

What will most likely happen is that the Patriots will add a starting-caliber lineman with the hope that Wilson can hold up against Bradbury at the starting position.While Bradbury was a great and worthy leader on the offensive line last season, the Patriots should prioritize team development.

Based on the initial discussion surrounding Wilson, the transition to center should be easy.

"I've had one general manager say, 'Jared Wilson is the only Pro Bowl, maybe All-Pro center in this draft,' if you draft him now, you know what you're going to get," said Duke Manyweather, who coached Wilson before last year's combine."The team called the center, but he's their No. 1 center on the board."

3. The Patriots maintain that rookie Will Campbell is staying at left tackle and soon-to-be 35-year-old Morgan Moses is back at right tackle, but they acknowledge that tackle is a position of need.The urgency to add tackles only increases if they lose Vederion Lowe and Thayer Munford Jr.In free agency.

Vrabel has already said that Moses will not take all the reps during training camp, so there will be an opportunity for rookie Marcus Bryant (and whoever the Patriots draft/sign as a replacement).

“I don't think you can have too many guys that can protect the most important part of your team offensively,” Vrabel said."We need competition. I know competition makes everyone better. That's something I know we want to try to provide competition in all these positions."

4. All of the Patriots wide receivers are under contract, so they will have to part with at least one if they want to improve the corps this offseason.

The most likely candidate is veteran Stefon Diggs, who is set to take the team's second-highest cap hit of $26.5 million.Wolf and Vrabel's comments this week suggest that Diggs' future in New England is in doubt.

The Patriots know that top receivers rarely, if ever, become free agents because the team that drafts them extends their contracts.So in order to acquire a traditional No. 1 perimeter player, they're going to have to make a big trade or take another chance in the draft.

The team also hopes that newcomer Kyle Williams, who finished third round last year, can find a key role next season.

5. After a 4-13 season, the Patriots hope for a Super Bowl, together with the tandem of Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye, the team has an attractive destination for free agents.

The team currently has $42.9 million in salary cap space and the ability to create more.Some of the high-profile free agents at positions of need include tight ends Isa and Cade Otton, wide receivers Mike Evans and Alec Pierce, edge rushers Odafe Oweh and Jaelan Phillips and guard Alia Vera-Tucker.

“Now that we've built a winning culture that we hope to maintain, it makes us even more attractive,” Wolff said.

Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her on X @nicolecyang.