With free agency opening a week from Wednesday, we are going to start a week long look at the Patriots and free agency.
Today’s focus will be on the Patriots top needs in free agency. Bill Belichick must use free agency to improve the the roster. He cannot simply rely on the draft.
1. Tight end: Ben Watson, Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse combined for 36 catches and two touchdowns last season. After ten years of Rob Gronkowski being the best tight end in football, the Patriots hit rock bottom at the position last season.
Belichick needs to emphasize the position in both free agency and the draft. Austin Hooper and Hunter Henry are the top two tight ends in the open market but both will command big money. If the Patriots are not willing to overspend on the position, old friend Jacob Hollister is a possibility. Hollister caught 41 passes for 349 yards and 3 touchdowns last season with the Seahawks.
The Patriots could also make a trade. They have rumored interest in Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst. Of course Belichick will also prioritize the position in the draft.
2. Offensive line: Left guard Joe Thuney is a free agent and will command big money in the open market, especially because of his versatility.
The Patriots will attempt to re–sign Thuney but it will be hard to overspend at a position where the team already has big money tied up in Shaq Mason and Marcus Cannon. Unless one of those two gets cut, the Patriots will not be able to afford Thuney.
If Thuney leaves in free agency, there are several veteran options at both guard and tackle. I do not see the Patriots overspending for a tackle. Guard and center will be their focal point in free agency. Former Bronco Conor McGovern and former Lion Graham Glasgow are affordable, versatile targets.
3. Quarterback: Quarterback all of sudden becomes the number one need on this team if Tom Brady signs elsewhere. If that happens, the Patriots will more than likely sign a veteran place holder and draft a quarterback to compete with Jared Stidham for the back up job/quarterback of the future.
I still maintain Brady will re-sign with the Patriots despite the noise. If he leaves, I only see three veteran quarterback options that makes sense in the Patriots system. Ryan Tannehill, Matt Stafford and Teddy Bridgewater.
The Patriots would have to trade for Stafford. They could sign Bridgewater or Tannehill as free agents. From a schematical standpoint, I do not see Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston as fits in the Patriots offense.
4. Defensive tackle: With both Danny Shelton and Adam Butler free agents, defensive tackle all of a sudden becomes a priority. Belichick could address the position in either free agency or the draft.
The Patriots will have interest in re-signing both Shelton and Butler and both are possibilities given that they won’t have major interest.
Other veteran options that could be scheme fits include: D.J Reader. Javon Hargrave, Michael Pierce and Quinton Jefferson. All will four draw major interest in the open market.
5. Linebacker: The Patriots need to figure out what they are going to do with Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts and Jaime Collins. All three are unrestricted free agents and all of them are expected to generate interest, particularly Van Noy. He is more than likely going to be elsewhere next season.
Collins and Roberts could be back, especially Collins. His versatility and three down play making ability make him a reliable option. If all three leave in free agency, there are several veteran options available to the Patriots. DeVondre Campbell, former Patriot draft pick Kamu Grugier Hill and veteran Mychal Kendricks are all possibilities.
6. Wide receiver: Tom Brady and fans alike are clamoring for an upgrade at wide receiver but the reality is, Belichick doesn’t want to overspend on the position. I think he will explore what is available and if he can upgrade at the right price, he will. With Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu and N’Keal Harry all back, the Patriots are well positioned at wide receiver. If the Patriots can add a veteran that fits the scheme and can complement what they have, they will. The draft is where they will more than likely address the receiver position.