Patriots investment in special teams is the best way to fix a unit that has struggled the last two years

Posted By on March 19, 2023

Contrary to what some Patriots fans think, the best way for the team to fix their troubled special teams units is by upgrading the talent on them, not firing the coordinator.

Fans want to fire special teams coach Cam Achord but that would only solve so much of the problem. The Patriots needed to upgrade the talent on their special teams units and they did that this week.

It all started with Matthew Slater announcing last month that he was returning and signing a one year, $1.3 million dollar contract. Getting Slater to come back was not only an important move for the special teams but for the team in general. He is the unquestioned leader of the Patriots.

The Patriots continued to upgrade the special teams this week when they re-signed long snapper Joe Cardona to a four year, $6.3 million. The deal includes $2.6 million in guarantees and it makes Cardona the highest paid long snapper in the league.

The Patriots then re-signed linebacker Mack Wilson to a one year deal worth up to $2.2 million dollars. Wilson was a core special teamer last season and also played in sub packages.

Bill Belichick wasn’t done. In perhaps his biggest move to shore up the special teams, the Patriots signed linebacker Chris Board, formally of the Detroit Lions to a two year, $6.7 million dollar deal. The 27 year old Board has graded out as one of the best special teamers in the NFL the past five years. Belichick’s affinity for him is well documented. He praised Board ahead of this past season’s meeting between the two teams.

“[Chris] Board, that’s the best special teams player we’ll play against all year. He’s a great player.”

High praise from a coach who started his NFL coaching career as an assistant special teams coach in Detroit.

The Patriots also resigned Cody Davis yesterday to a one year deal. The 33 year old veteran safety has been one of the best special teamers in the league throughout his career. The news of Davis’ return was actually broken by Devin McCourty yesterday evening.

Making staff changes is easy. Finding the right players to play on special teams is harder. Belichick has always invested in special teams much to the chagrin of Patriots fans. It is the price you have to pay to be good in all three phases.

The Patriots are not done. They still need to find a punter and a long term answer at kicker. Both could be addressed in the draft.

The next time you complain about spending money on special teams, remember. You get what you pay for. If you don’t invest in a third of the game, you will only get two-thirds of the results when it comes to winning and losing games.