This week annually is always the craziest week of the NFL.

This year is no exception, and it didn’t take long.

A year ago early this week, when the New England Patriots got over their foggy approach leftover from the now suddenly unretired Tom Brady’s departure and the first season (2020) impacted by the pandemic and decided it was time to get back into the game.

The winning game – and free agent game.

Now fast forward to a year later. The Patriots stunned everyone with a record spending spree the first couple of days of this same week a year ago, then got their quarterback in the draft and went from there.

The result, of course, was an 11-6 season that got them a Wild Card berth and a trip to Buffalo to get slaughtered by Josh Allen and the Bills.

Of course, everyone wants the Patriots to narrow that gap with more premiere free agents. Sorry fans, not happening.

You see, free agency is often fool’s gold in the NFL. The game is too physical, and consistency is often an issue. Hardly anyone lives up to the big contract, but for a year or two can provide a team a lift before they get cut, or asked to restructure or take a pay cut.

Matt Judon, Hunter Henry, and Kendrick Bourne were the stars of Bill Belichick’s spending spree a year ago, as when the Monday tampering period opened, it took less than two hours to get them all to agree to terms.Jonnu Smith was a first year bust, but there is still hope. Nelson Agholor was fine, except not up to the dollars of his deal.

But you see, now the Patriots don’t have anywhere near the cap room of last year, when they had the most or pretty much close to it in the league. It’s back to the bargain basement, third or fourth day shopping, unless some other cuts are made.

This is a team that needs to get younger and faster. Very few free agents in the NFL ever fit that category.

So what can the Patriots do? They may not need to scour the league for safety help now that Devin McCourty announced Sunday he’s re-signing with the team. But they need some receiver help and of course will likely need to fine cornerback depth as it’s very likely the highly overrated J.C. Jackson will be signing for big dollars elsewhere.

Maybe a player like Darious Williams? He’s 28, played opposite Jalen Ramsey with the Super Bowl champion Rams but has never really been a No. 1 corner before. Suddenly, the Patriots find themselves trying to replace the talent of the past (Jackson, Stephon Gilmore, who we say is probably headed to Houston or Denver).

As for receiver, buyer beware. The Patriots signed four players (two of them TE’s) to catch the football on March 15, 2021, and still we’re looking for an upgrade? Unfortunately, yes. But it will be a bargain basement one, perhaps former Jacksonville receiver D.J. Chark.

As for Brady, the biggest surprise is the fact he is returning to Tampa. He was, according to his twitter, hosted by the Bucs owners, the Glazer family, and Manchester United soccer over in England this past weekend. So maybe there was a little cajoling. But he specifically made it a point in his social media post to say he was returning to the Bucs. So at least we won’t have the drama that lasted from just before the Bucs’ Wild Card loss to the Rams to yesterday. Expect Rob Gronkowski to return to Tampa as well, now that Brady has. The two go together in all kinds of weather.

Such is the topsy-turvy world of the NFL, and it’s only beginning on Monday. The league year officially starts Wednesday. We don’t think there will be any Patriots surprises, but who knows.

In Brady’s case, the old saying that the NFL stands for Not For Long fits.

Tom King may be reached @Telegraph_TomK, or tking@nashuatelegraph.com