I think they are certainly a team that SHOULD be on the cusp of making the playoffs. They went 7-9 , and if Cam scores from the 1 vs Seattle and doesn’t fumble against Buffalo, they might have made the playoffs LAST year.
Take that team, and add in Hightower, Van Noy, Barmore, a rapidly improving Uche & Dugger, Matt Judon, Carl Davis, the returns of Guy & Wise, and man this team has the makings of a top 5 defense when Gilmore returns, probably top 10 without him.
Then on offense you add Henry, Smith, Agholor, Bourne, Stevenson and a more involved JJ Taylor, and a QB who was born to play for the way this offense usually plays, and the offense SHOULD be MUCH improved.
That being said, there are a lot of factors in a season, Bad bounces, injuries, Covid, many things can derail a season. But if the Pats stay healthy, no reason this team couldn’t win at least 9 games. Which would be an improvement over last year. Which is all you can ask for from a rebuilding squad. That being said, I think the Pats go 10-7, and sneak into the playoffs.