With five guys on the defensive line hitting free agency, as well as let’s count, two quarterbacks, two running backs, two wide receivers, four pieces of offensive line a couple of linebackers, two cornerbacks, two safeties and a kicker (phew!) it’s no wonder we are starting to panic a little on how the Patriots are going to quell the bleeding this 2021 season.
Sure it would seem that free agency is starting to heat up all over the NFL at the moment, with many teams struggling for cap space, there are some big cap casualties that are going to be hitting the market.
Of course not all gashes left in free agency need to be bandaged with a current NFL player, with just (at the time of writing this) 8 weeks from the draft, interest in the fresh young college talent is reaching fever pitch too.
Speculation is rife around the Patriots, and we all know a lot of that hinges on the fact that no one (well hopefully not NO ONE) knows who will be the starter at quarterback. If you go on simply signed at the moment the guy who throws the ball will either be Jarrett Stidham or Jake Dolegala……… and a lot of fans feel that’s a total flat line. Personally, my perspective is without giving him plenty of starting games, the true picture on Stid the Kid isn’t fully developed, but I know many disagree and that the very reasonable argument is if they thought he was good he would have played more…. that’s fair, still subject to argument that Cam Newton was an opportunity they just didn’t want to pass up. Ifs buts and candy and nuts I guess.
There are no patented steps to success in this business but if there were, Coach Bill Belichick would have all the rights and that is why most fans are excitedly awaiting what might happen. But there are some obvious steps that the Patriots need to take: paging doctor super star wide receiver, that’s paging doctor super star wide receiver!
The word ‘weapons’ has been bandied about so very much linked to the Patriots that if you looked up the word in a dictionary you may actually see a photo of a wide receiver.
All fans and sport media alike have their own opinions for what the Patriots need and fortunately this season Bill has plenty of space in his cap to put out some money for key pieces, so hold on tight folks this off season has all the makings of temperature raising excitement!
I am in fact not known for my decisiveness…. but in the interest of fun I have compiled my own Patriots prescription, you will probably disagree but hey that’s half the fun folks!I love tight ends
Quarterback:
Okay so the quarterback carousel is spinning so much I’m kinda dizzy! There are two options that really have me interested;
1. Scoop up Garner Minshew – young guy, high energy and I think some potential under a new coaching style, an inexpensive choice too that may turn out to last you many many years.
2. Prise Jimmy Garopalo away from the 49ers. He won’t be cheap and there is a huge risk with his injury history, after all he has only started 52% of games in the last three seasons. This guy is not the one that Coach Bill had to release back when Tom Brady was still in Foxborough.
Tight End:
Drop Matt LaCosse and grab Kyle Rudolph in free agency. Significantly increasing the depth at tight end and bringing in a nice steady hand to help guide the young drafted Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene giving Ryan Izzo the opportunity to maybe stand out as a nice TE2 for while. And although it’s highly unlikely I have been mildly vocal that I would definitely like the drafting of Pat Freiermuth from Penn State.
Wide Receiver:
Lots of tasty choices here and my potential plan for action is an explosive veteran at free agency who may cost a fair few dollars but will inject into the wide receiver core what the Patriots need, such as maybe Will Fuller or JuJU Smith-Schuster. The cheaper option of Keelan Cole from The Jacksonville may work well if they do go with Gardner Minshew as quarterback. I may also be tempted to hit the draft for later round guys that could possibly become something under Coach Bill’s hand.
Running Back:
A reasonable core of players here. James White is a heavy possibility to leave but I’m hoping Rex Burkhead stays on a while longer, losing two veteran players with such locker room presence would be quite detrimental and of course those two gents are talented. I hoping we stick fast at running back maybe scoop up an undrafted guy.
Offensive Line:
The big issue on the offensive line is the possible loss of David Andrews or Joe Thuney or both! Whilst nowhere near guaranteed the general consensus, and I say this lightly with nothing official to back it up, is that David Andrews will not be let go. Now, Joe Thuney is a great player, integral piece but also will warrant a high price and this is the downside. PFF.com only has one other guard heading to free agency with such a high price tag and that is Washington Football Team’s Brandon Scheff, after Scheff and Thuney the price plummets to a meagre $6M per year for Matt Feiler of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Whilst I would much prefer to keep both Andrews and Thuney and the Patriots have the cap space, holding onto a 28 year old guard with a large cost might hinder the rest of the rebuild the Patriots need to partake in.
Fullback:
I have some controversial takes here and that may be because my motives tend to be mildly tight end driven. Jakob Johnson was a good fullback in 2020 when the new signing, Danny Vitale opted out, but as a fan I want to see us get back to James Develin type days and I’m hoping Vitale keeps his job with Dalton Keene maybe transitioning across into a more full back/h-back type roll possibly dropping Jakob Johnson although that provides no literal value in cap space or draft picks.
Defensive Line:
Other than quarterback this is the place that holds my biggest concern more so because of the amount of players heading to free agency. Now, if they keep Lawrence Guy… my anxiety dips. The draft may be a prime place to nab some big solid guys who can rush the passer with the energy of youth!
Linebacker:
With Don’t’a Hightower due back from opt outs and having the young blood of Joshua Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Terez Hall I’m not too worried but I know many are and mock drafts see the Patriots taking Micah Parson from Penn State at 15…. nice addition to my Penn State pool with Freiermuth there though.
Secondary:
The cornerback debate is rife, do they or don’t they keep Stephon Gilmore? Probably the biggest bargaining chip the Patriots have, but also one of the more significant veterans on the roster. I have flipped back and forth on this one so much that I am mildly motion sick. I want to maintain veteran quality players and feel that if the Patriots let him go it’s another serious hole to fill. I want another year with him bringing the younger players up so I vote keep him. With Jason McCourty hitting free agency but Devin McCourty still under contract the question is will the Patriots split up this dynamic duo, but the twins are getting on in their career, however they are another significant locker room presence and if James White does go I’d be edgy to dilute the long time Patriot player pool, more so if Rex Burkhead is let go. Patrick Chung opting back in alongside Kyle Dugger and Adrian Phillips is a good thing and settles my stomach a little with my secondary anxiety.
Special teams:
As I mentioned in my recent article on fullpresscoverage.com the Patriots may have three kickers in camp currently but the one hitting free agency, Nick Folk, is the one that is the most proven. There is no wavering in my mind on this one, do not let Nick Folk go.
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