The Bills win is going to make a big difference in the draft I bet. SMH.
The idea that it needs to be “ripped to the studs” is wildly pessimistic. The offense needs 4-5 noticeable improvements, unfortunately at hard to find and very expensive positions.
but put an above average QB and gamebreaking WR on this team and they’re a playoff contender. Not elite. But almost certainly in the mix below the top AFC teams.
I think the roster needs more than this on both sides, but even if you're right "4-5 noticeable improvements" may as well mean blow it up. By the time you could get these players, unless you absolutely nail the offseason and guys already on the roster are making strides, the rest of your roster is basically going to turn over just because of how the NFL works.
Getting more specific, here are the guys who are decent or have promise and signed after the 24-25 season, or young enough that you'd probably want to re-sign them:
Mac, under the 5th year option, one could argue is worth keeping
Boutte
Douglas
Strange
Onwenu could be re-signed at the right price, especially if he sticks better at RT
Jury out on the young OL, but so far not great
That's it on offense, everyone else is old or bad. Maybe Henry will be re-signed but you'd want to improve on that position at his age most likely. Juju and Parker will be in the last year of their crummy deals and probably cut if they're not gone sooner.
Defense:
Barmore is a extension target
Bentley
Gonzalez
Peppers
K White
Others are maybes like Godchaux
I'm less worried about the defense because Belichick is better at finding defenders but the offense has really nothing. Yes if they get 4-5 difference makers and fill in the rest with pieces that aren't horrible they'd be good but you just essentially described ripping it to the studs.
There will be a lot of cap space to find decent pieces (not stars) on the FA market so you could definitely put together a contender by 2025, if you get the star pieces, but of course they've been shit at identifying those more minor pieces too.