Patriots Free Agency Wish List

Posted By on March 13, 2023

Free agency is finally upon us. The tampering period begins Monday at noon eastern time and the official start of free agency is March 15th at 4pm. Due to the tampering period, many free agents will have agreed to deals before the official March 15th start, but that time kicks off the new league year and will lead to a flurry of visits, signings and trades. The Patriots have $32 million in cap space and can create more if needed. There will be a need to work out extensions in the next year with Kyle Dugger, Josh Uche, and Michael Onwenu, but they’ll still have money to spend this spring if they want to.

Wish lists are always fun to make, but if the Patriots walk away from free agency with these three players, it will be a massive upgrade:

 

Mike McGlinchey, OT

McGlinchey has been a right tackle for the 49ers since being drafted. He is a 6’8” monster in the run game and holds his own in pass protection as well. His overall PFF grade of 71.5 is good and at 28 years old he still has several good years left. He will be expensive so if the Patriots want him, they’ll have to pounce quickly. Right tackle was one of the worst positions for the Patriots last season and bringing in McGlinchey would solve that problem immediately. Another tackle option would be Jawaan Taylor of Jacksonville.

Another option would be to sign Eagles guard Isaac Seumalo and move Onwenu back to right tackle, where he starred in 2020.

 

Jamel Dean, CB

Dean is 26, in his prime, and showed that he can play man and zone for the Buccaneers since being drafted in 2019. He’s 6’1”, 205 pounds and has longer arms than Jonathan Jones and Jalen Mills, the Patriots two starting outside corners last year. The New England defense held up well last season but had trouble defending bigger receivers such as Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson. Dean will allow the Patriots to play their favored man schemes against bigger receivers and have success.

Another enticing, and more affordable, option would be Rock Ya-Sin from the Raiders. Ya-Sin is another 26-year-old who has good length and played in a Patriots style scheme last season.

 

Tremaine Edmunds, LB

Edmunds has spent his entire five-year career with the Buffalo Bills and has made two Pro Bowls. Despite being in the league for five seasons, he is still young; he’ll turn 25 in May. The Patriots could use an athletic linebacker and Edmunds fits the bill. At 6’5”. 250 pounds he is big, but he moves well for a player his size. He’s had over 100 tackles every season of his career and has intercepted five passes. Edmunds is strong against the run, but will not get lost in pass coverage. He would be a more athletic version of Ja’Whaun Bentley and allow the Patriots to rush Bentley more and have Edmunds play more in space.

 

Jessie Bates III

With the retirement of Devin McCourty, the Patriots have an opening at free safety. One option would be to re-sign Jonathan Jones and move him to free safety. This is an easy fit and would be more cost effective than taking a big swing. If the team wants to take a big swing, however, Bates is the guy to go get. He’s 26 and one of the best safeties in the NFL. He was a key cog in a Bengals defense that went to back to back AFC Championship Games and the Super Bowl last year. He had a career high four interceptions last year to go along with 71 tackles in 16 games. Bates was a second team All-Pro in 2020. Bates would slot into McCourty’s now vacated role.