2020 reminded BB what it's like to play/coach/GM without having the G.O.A.T. under center, and not compensating for that across the board. It's obvious that he wasn't going to try repeating that nonsense. That, in combination with the cap space and coronavirus contract suppressant, is why I've been saying that this would be a year for the Patriots to spend in free agency. They can get top of the pile players, pay them top of the pile money, and still pay them less than they'd have had to in a normal season. It's a BB wet dream scenario.
And, by using F.A. this way, the team puts itself at least into position to move up to grab a QB, if it wants to.