As their Super Bowl dynasty years slip further into the rearview mirror, the Patriots are winning the offseason again.
The Patriots paired landing the highly coveted Mike Vrabel during the coaching carousel with an unrivaled $282 million spending spree — nearly $160 million of which is guaranteed — at the start of free agency.
Significantly upgrading their defense at every level was the luxury afforded to the Patriots by entering free agency with an NFL-high $129 million of salary cap space.
Defensive tackle Milton Williams (four years, $104 million), edge rusher Harold Landry (three years $43.5 million), linebacker Robert Spillane (three years, $37.5 million) and cornerback Carlton Davis (three years, $60 million) reportedly all agreed to terms by Monday afternoon.
The spending didn’t stop there, as the Patriots also poached right tackle Morgan Moses (three years, $24 million) from the rival Jets, added backup quarterback Josh Dobbs (two years, $8 million), receiver Mack Hollins (two-years, $8.4 million) and re-signed tight end Austin Hooper (one year, $5 million).
But one problem is that Patriots fans have seen this act before.
Another problem is what’s missing from the haul: The Patriots still are searching for a No. 1 receiver to make life easier for franchise quarterback Drake Maye.
Months after watching Tom Brady win a seventh Super Bowl with the Buccaneers, the Patriots ran up a $200 million tab on the first day of free agency in 2021.
Of the seven players added then, only receiver Kendrick Bourne remains on the team after Davon Godchaux was traded Monday to the Saints.
And only Matthew Judon made a significant impact while in New England.
Follow the Post’s NFL Free Agency live coverage
Receiver DK Metcalf — who was just traded Sunday from the Seahawks to the Steelers and signed a five-year, $150 million contract — said earlier this offseason that playing in New England was “not a desirable place.”
Money talks, however.
The Patriots have been searching for a No. 1 receiver for more than a year and came close to trading for Brandon Aiyuk before he re-signed with the 49ers last summer.
Aiyuk, who is coming off a torn ACL, could be available again.
Chris Godwin — who was the undisputed top available receiver and The Post’s top-ranked free agent regardless of position — re-signed Monday with the Buccaneers on a three-year, $66 million contract.
He reportedly left more than $20 million on the table to return to playing with future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, and league sources believe that it was the Patriots whose big offer was spurned.
The Patriots, who haven’t made the playoffs for three straight years and are 0-2 in the postseason since winning their sixth Super Bowl in 2018, also hold the No. 4 pick in the first round of the NFL draft.
Left tackle is on their wish list, too.
Here are four other takeaways from the first day of free agency:
1. Bear claws
After quarterback Caleb Williams took an NFL-worst 68 sacks as a rookie, the Bears remade their interior offensive line.
Pre-free agency trades for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson were supplemented by signing top free agent center Drew Dalman (three years, $42 million with $28 million guaranteed).
2. Trader Adam’s
In the past five months, Commanders general manager Adam Peters has traded eight draft picks (none are first-rounders) for cornerback Marshon Lattimore, receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
It appears that the Commanders — not the Cowboys — are the NFC East team most committed to closing the gap on the Super Bowl-winning Eagles.
Adding Tunsil (and a fourth-rounder) from the Texans in a deal for four draft picks was a surprise move.
3. Overpay of the day
Hours before the five-time Pro Bowler Tunsil was traded, the Titans agreed to a four-year, $82 million contract with left tackle Dan Moore.
Moore was a four-year starter for the Steelers … but not a good one.
He allowed an NFL-high 12 sacks last season and committed 21 penalties, including 11 holdings, over four years.
Moore was the big trickle-down winner of Ronnie Stanley agreeing to a below-market value three-year, $60 million extension with the Ravens two days before free agency.
4. Backed into a corner
Jaycee Horn still was one year from free agency but secured a four-year, $100 million extension with the Panthers.
It set the tone for a landscape-changing day at the position.
Seven cornerbacks — Davis, Colts’ Charvarius Ward, Giants’ Paulson Adebo, Packers’ Nate Hobbs, Lions’ D.J. Reed, Jets’ Brandon Stephens and Jaguars’ Jourdan Lewis — changed teams on multiyear deals worth between $10 million and $20 million per year.
Byron Murphy Jr. is expected to easily clear that threshold, too.
