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Patriots FA’s – Who stays? Who leaves?

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Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

With the yearly Draft hype underway, I thought it would be a good time to have a rundown of each of the team’s 25 free agents, and give my take on who should stay and who should go.

Future free agency and Draft content is on the way (including big boards and mock drafts), so keep an eye out!

LB Shilique Calhoun (UFA) – Leave

Think the team can find better options than Calhoun moving forward, along with continuing to rebuild the Linebacker group. I don’t think he should return.

WR Damiere Byrd (UFA) – Stay

Byrd had a solid year as he assumed the WR2 position, I didn’t expect him to play in that role when he signed a one-year deal last offseason. I can’t imagine Byrd will cost much more than what we signed him for previously, I’d take him back on another one-year deal.

DT Adam Butler (UFA) – Stay

Butler had ups and downs through-out the 2020 season, but, he was the team’s best pass rusher. If the Pats can agree on a new deal, I would like him to return and continue developing, think he has a bright future.

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Patriots Select WR N’Keal Harry in First Round

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The Patriots didn’t make their 32nd overall pick until close to midnight on Thursday but it was well worth the wait for me as they selected wide receiver N’Keal Harry, a player I had in my one and only mock draft of the spring.

I spent much of the last week expressing how much I wanted the Pats to pick a “presence” player, especially at wide out and tight end and that’s exactly what Harry is — a super competitive big receiver willing to do the dirty work.

How does Harry fit? Let’s dive in with some highlights and scouting reports.

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PatsProp Bruins Diary: Bruins Playoff Preview

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Something a little outside the norm here on this usually-Patriots-only blog as I take a little dive into, gasp, hockey and specifically the Boston Bruins. It’s the slowest time of the NFL season and while researching draft prospects is keeping me busy, the urge to write about hockey has been overwhelming so it’s time to throw a little changeup.

First, a little background on me because most of you only know me as the Bill Belichick Hoodie blogger guy who’s been writing about the Pats for over a decade. But the weird thing is that the Bruins were really my true love when I was growing up. Those early 90’s years were lean for the Patriots but the Bruins were in the Stanley Cup hunt every year and they helped eased the pain of one- and two-win Patriot teams.

I played hockey all the way through college, with many players who went on to pro careers. Since moving back to Boston I’ve found myself re-immersed in the sport that was really everything to me growing up.

Last fall, I started reffing youth hockey, which is probably worth its own blog post series itself, and have been lucky enough to work with Jimmy Murphy and CLNS producing the Garden Report on Ice. I’ve been credentialed for a bunch of Bruins games and practices this season so yes, I’ve been enjoying this unexpected season up close and personal. Here’s the latest video we put together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75rxGiOUQL0&t=3s

As the season has progressed I’ve found myself getting the itch to write some hockey posts more and more. So what am I going to do? Start another whole blog from scratch? Ask some other blog to let me write for them on their terms? Nope. I’m just going to fire them up here from time to time.

If you’re here just for the Patriots stuff there will be plenty more coming, with the Top 50 Big Board on tap for early next week, along with my mock draft, more Patshow broadcasts, and plenty more draft analysis as the picks and signings start to come in. You can stop reading now, while any brave souls who happen to love the Bruins like they love the Pats will hopefully enjoy some of my Bruins analysis as they embark on a playoff run that starts with a tough Toronto Maple Leafs team.

Let’s do that hockey!

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First Two Rounds Will Be Patriots’ Playground

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After moving Brandin Cooks and picking up their second first-round pick for 2018’s NFL Draft, there’s much speculation as to what the Patriots will do with the capital that includes two second-round picks as well. Could they trade up for a quarterback? Or an offensive tackle? Or a linebacker? Or just trade them all for dozens of picks in 2019?

What happens will depend entirely on how things unfold above them, but after the top ten has passed the Patriots are in play for almost every pick during the first two days of the draft. Up, down, into the future…picks will be flying and it should make for an exciting weekend for Patriots fans.

The more I dig into this draft the more excited I am about the potential players that could be available at 23 that would not have been available at 31. Someone at a position of need will fall, and who knows, maybe they’ll move up to grab the right guy.

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Patriots Trade Cooks to Rams, Pick Up Another First-Round Pick

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Brandin Cooks had one of the more interesting first seasons for a new Patriots receiver. He put up over 1,000 yards on 65 catches with seven touchdowns, yet there was still debate if Cooks was everything Patriots fans expected him to be. After all, these same fans had been complaining about the lack of a deep threat since Belichick traded away Randy Moss, and yet now Cooks is gone after just one season, traded to the Rams for a first round pick, while also swapping a fourth-rounder down to a sixth rounder.

The Pats’ picks are now:

1.23 (LAR)
1.31
2.43 (SF)
2.63
3.95
6.TBD (LAR)
6.210
7.219

That’s plenty of ammo to move up and down the draft board to give a much-needed influx of talent in necessary spots such as left tackle, linebacker and defensive end. Just for fun, based on the draft value chart the Patriots could get all the way up to ninth overall with a package of the 23rd and 31st pick. But I doubt they’ll do that.

The trade of Cooks isn’t a total shocker and re-allocates some capital into the first round of the draft.They’ve made just two first-round picks in the last five years, and only Malcom Brown is still on the roster. Now, with two first rounders the Pats look ready to do some damage. It will also open up more cap space, with @Patscap currently having their number at $14.7 million.

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Patriots Internal Free Agents and Philosophy Re-Group

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As a rule I try not to jump into mock drafts or big name free agents as the offseason begins. The priority must start with the Patriots internal free agents because those holes would be best filled by players who have already been groomed in-house. Sometimes you hope that certain players make a leap otherwise you’re forced to dip into external free agency where you spend more for players you know less about.

But by now we know how the Pats operate — bargain free agents and mid-round draft picks. Don’t expect a monumental departure from that philosophy this season no matter how bad the defense looked in the Super Bowl.

Here are the current depth charts (not really in true depth-ranked order so don’t @ me!) and what the overall plan should be on both sides of the ball. Players likely to be cut have a strikethrough.

Offense

Holes — Left Tackle, Running Back

Strength — Quarterback, Wide Receiver

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A Way-Too-Early Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection

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Patriots Roster Projection

Like mock drafts in January, it’s way too early to legitimately project how things will shake out for the Patriots 53-man roster in September, but with so many draft picks once again and so much talent on this roster, it’s a good exercise to figure out where the tightest position battles will be.

Here’s an optimistic (and way too early) stab:

QB (3) T.Brady, J.Garoppolo, J.Brissett: No major surprise here, though if Brady sits the first four games and the Pats have a roster exemption for him, it will at least help avoid a painful cut elsewhere on the roster.

RB (5) D.Lewis, L.Blount, T.Gaffney, J.Develin, B.Bolden: I’m taking the optimistic route here with Gaffney, that he emerges and can take a significant early down role that I hoped would be filled in the draft. Lewis’ recovery timetable is a huge unknown. James White is my shocker cut, but if Lewis is healthy and Gaffney emerges I think White is just too one dimensional and never quite rose to the occasion last year, especially in the AFC Championship. Still, I’d bet they find a way to keep him, but for right here right now he’s hitting the bricks.

WR (6) J.Edelman, D.Amendola, C.Hogan, M.Mitchell, D.Lucien, M.Slater: Tough call here on Keyshawn Martin, who the Pats gave a new deal to last year, but I’d be much more excited to see Lucien sneak into that spot. Otherwise, this group is already looking better than last year. Aaron Dobson is finally put out to pasture.

TE (3) R.Gronkowski, M.Bennett, C.Harbor: The lack of a pure blocking tight end here is a bit concerning, but with Bennett in the mix it changes things because he can do it all. They can use one of their OL for the heavy sets if necessary. Crazy amount of talent at the top and Harbor can move around in a number of roles.

C (2) B.Stork, D.Andrews: Wouldn’t be opposed to trading one of these guys, preferably Andrews because of my Stork crush. Two very good young centers.

G (4) S.Mason, J.Kline, J.Thuney, J.Cooper: Again, taking an optimistic view with Cooper, that he re-finds the magic that made him a first round pick. Pencilling him in to start with Kline. Had to choose between Mason and Jackson, just liked Mason’s athleticism a bit more though his size continues to concern me a bit.

T (4) N.Solder, S.Vollmer, M. Cannon, L.Waddle: Could see Cannon getting cut if Waddle beats him out but for now keeping four for depth sake and I think Scarnecchia likes Cannon more than any of us. Fleming isn’t an easy cut, but a necessary one.

DE (4) R.Ninkovich, J.Sheard, C.Long, T.Flowers: Tough cut here of Geneo Grissom, I just like Flowers more and see him as a better physical fit at defensive end while Grissom seems too much of a tweener. Expecting Flowers to have a significant role even in the 4th string spot.

DT (4) M.Brown, T.Knighton, A.Branch, V.Valentine: Holy shit, look at the beef on this line! Feel good about these four. Brown should be the one DT in pure passing situations. Kearse/Kuhn/Vellano are easy cuts.

ILB(2) S.McClellin, J.Freeny: Thank the Hoodie Freeny has been bumped down the depth chart! McClellin will fit in well when the Pats are in their regular (fka “base”) defense, but also rotate in as he has a similar skill set to Hightower/Collins. Rookie Elandon Roberts isn’t an easy cut, and I’m interested to see if Bostic has anything in the tank now that he should be fully healthy.

OLB(2) J.Collins, D.Hightower: Two badass ninjas.

CB (5) M.Butler, L.Ryan, C.Jones, J.Coleman, D.Roberts: Gotta love this group and I’m very excited to get Roberts back into the mix. Wonder if they could use a vet since it’s such a young group, but all five are tough and can play.

SS (3) P.Chung, J.Richards, B.King: Richards’ role could increase this year with the departure of Tavon Wilson, both on special teams and on defense. King is an excellent special teamer and extremely under the radar for many casual fans. Chung just got extended again and could be in for a Pro Bowl-esque season.

FS (3) D.McCourty, D.Harmon, N.Ebner: Very good group, same kind of rotation with McCourty and Harmon as last year.

ST (3) S.Gostkowski, R.Allen, J.Cardona: Hopefully Cardona doesn’t have any Navy responsibilities to attend to. Otherwise rock solid group.

 

Hardest cuts: James White, Cameron Fleming, Tre Jackson, Geneo Grissom, Kamu Grugier-Hill.

Surprises: Tyler Gaffney, Darryl Roberts, Devin Lucien.
Make your own with Pats Picker and share in the comments if you’re not scared. It’s really, really tough at this point. But of course, injuries will make things a bit easier, unfortunately.