The Patriots could literally do anything this offseason
NFL Free agency is about to start. The Patriots are a 8-9 team with a massive amount of questions surrounding them. Not only are there questions surrounding them they are getting buried in the headline department from their peers. Aaron Rogers to the Jets, Brady to Miami. There is no buzz for this team right now. The expectations are low. They are living in a sea of mediocrity with no real path out of it. Belichick is on the 19th hole of his career and it’s like we are all holding our breath for him to make one more miraculous play before he slips off into the long dark night.
After basically pissing last season away with the coaching decisions it’s clear the Krafts have made an effort to apply pressure. Question now is can they turn that pressure into diamonds?
What will they do with the QB position?
Lamar Jackson is officially available. All it would take for the Patriots is two 1st round picks and a shit ton of money. Can you trade Mac for a 2nd rounder plus a mid round or two to reap back some of that draft capital? Would the Patriots ever pay the amount of money? (Doubtful. More on that in a minute) Is Lamar worth it? Undoubtbly he is one of, if not the most athletic QB in the NFL. He’s a former MVP. He can’t stay healthy and has a losing record in the playoffs. But, he’s better than Mac.
Is the #7 pick from the Raiders enough to give up on Mac and start a new with a rookie? I’ve seen mock trades of Mac and #14 for the #7 and compensating draft capital back from the Raiders. From there the Pats would have to identify their QB and sang him. I doubt this is on the radar. And please spare me with the Zappe fever. He will work well as a guy to push the starter, but Bailey Zappe is the Brian Hoyer of this generation.
Does Mac Jones deserve a make or break year with the Patriots? He was the #15 pick and a College Football Champion. We have seen a blue print for the Tua’s and Jalen Hurts’ of the world. “Non elite” QBs surrounded by elite talent can find success in this league. I think Mac can fall into that category. Lamar is oh so tempting though.
Are the Krafts ready to spend money? Real Money?
A lot has been made about the lack of spending coming out of Foxboro this off season. It started with none other than Bill Belichick letting us all know they are in the bottom 3rd in spending the past three seasons. We later found out that the Patriots rank 31st in cash spending over the past decade. I guess when the winning dries up after you chase the greatest player ever out the door we start to see the warts.
Can Kraft bite the bullet and open up the purse to bring in enough talent to elevate his young QB?
Filling out the roster
I’m not really even sure dumping loads of cash into the market gets this team close enough to compete with the Chiefs of the league. The free agent market is WEAK! Orlando Brown should be their top target to fill the LT position, but from there Jackobi Myers is probably the most appealing name. Throw Jonathan Jones on the list too. So, is simply running it back with your own guys enough? Of course not.
What does the trade market look like? DeAndre Hopkins and Jalen Ramsey are the biggest names the Patriots have been linked too. I like both those players, but that’s too much draft capital to give up for a team the needs to continue stacking the younger ranks. If I had my pick I’d go Ramsey. Here’s why. Reports are the Patriots will look to address the WR position with a veteran. Allen Lazard is probably the best FA WR not named Jackobi, but a lot can shake out between now and camp.
Contract extensions and the rest of the roster
Hunter Henry, Matthew Judon, and Kyle Dugger are names you can look at extending. That opens up about $10 million cap space to play with and locks up three good players for the next couple years
The Secondary. Keeping up with the Jones’ is going to the game here. Jack Jones, Marcus Jones, Jonathan Jones. Not only is it fun, but it should be effective. Jalen Mills is in the mix, but with a McCourty retirement expected and frankly due, Mills could be the ideal fit to fill that role. McCourty is an all time Patriot, but the last couple years he has shown he’s a step behind. Time to move on. Jordan Poyer is another sexy name to keep an eye on. Good player, position of need. Helps aid in the destruction of the Bills “Dynasty”.
LB. There was a clear attempt to get faster at this position last year with Mac Wilson and McMillan, but they are just not good enough. I’d love to see this position addressed in the draft. Young LB’s has historically been a strength of Belichick’s. Can he adjust his philosophy a touch to identify a guy who can play in space and not just fill the A gap?
OL. People are over reacting a bit on the OL. Remember who was in charge of this unit last year. Fatty P. From a talent perspective it’s pretty decent. David Andrews is as solid as it gets. Mike Onwenu was the best RG in football last year. Cole Strange is expected to make a year 2 jump as a 1st round pick. Trent Brown when motivated can easily hold down a RT role. So, yes you need to fill the most important position. Orlando Brown is the biggest name out there. I'd like to see Mac and Browns next season in addition to drafting the next LT.
WR. Add pass catcher to this mix. The draft is loaded with TE’s. It should be a position addressed. Hopefully they can stick the landing better than the last attempt of Dalton Keene and Devin Assassi or even the signings of Henry and Jonnu Smith for that matter.
A 3rd down RB is on my list too. Since Kevin Faulk this has been a staple in the Patriots offense. For a guy like Mac this is a super valuable position. Belichick has been able to find these guys of the trash heap or deep in the draft. It should be a target area.
Clearly though the league has made a drastic shift to needing the #1 target at the WR position. The Patriots have to address it. With a guy like Hopkins in the mix it slots everyone down to their appropriate role making it easier to be productive.
Hopkins, Parker, Bourne, Tyquan Thorton, Slay Bolden starts to look like a decent WR room.
I believe Mac Jones is here to stay. At least for another year. So, with out joining the circus of QB merry go round the Patriots need to make a splash. Weather that be a big FA signing, a block buster trade, or maybe even moving UP in the draft to land one of their guys. This is not an offseason to simply reflect and improve internally. After the shit show of the walking nut sack Patricia - Judge they all need some fresh air down there.