The Patriots got better this week. I know it seems like I am a prisoner of the moment but I really believe the Patriots additions this week make this team better.
It is hard to believe after winning 17 games and getting to a Super Bowl that the Patriots are better now but they are.
Dre’Mont Jones is an upgrade over K’Lavon Chaisson. He is a better pass rusher and more productive statistically. Jones is a better fit schematically and he has a long history with Mike Vrabel going back to Ohio State. He will give the Patriots defense an edge, literally and figuratively.
Reggie Gilliam’s signing is proof that the Patriots are going to prioritize the running game and build their offense around it. They want to set a physical tone out of 21 and 22 personnel and Gilliam will allow them to do that.
Perhaps the best signing of the week was guard Alijah Vera-Tucker to a four year contract. Vera-Tucker will slot into the vacate left guard spot and give the Patriots a Pro Bowl caliber starter and some stability next to Will Campbell and Jared Wilson. He is an upgrade over Wilson at guard and if he stays healthy, he will play at an elite level.
After weeks of speculation that the Patriots might trade for A.J Brown or sign Alec Pierce, they did neither. Apparently they had a $30 million dollar a year offer on the table for Pierce but he opted to return to Indianapolis. The Patriots pivoted and signed former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs to a 4 year, $70 million dollar deal. I like this signing more for the Patriots. At 6’2 205, Doubs gives the receiving room size, versatility and an effective red zone weapon. The 26 year old is an upgrade over Stefon Diggs. I see a lot of David Givens and Jakobi Meyers in his game.
The one signing I did not see coming was safety Kevin Byard. I genuinely thought the Patriots were going to make a push to keep Jaylinn Hawkins. Ultimately, Mike Vrabel decided to go with a player he knows well. Byard is older than Hawkins but is the better player. He led the NFL in interceptions last season with seven. Byard was very open on Thursday when meeting with the media about his desire this off-season to reunite with Mike Vrabel. He made that happen by agreeing to a one year deal. He gives an already loaded Patriots defense another chess piece to play around with.
The addition of tight end Julian Hill from the Miami Dolphins is intriguing. Hill signed a three year deal. He was primarily a blocking U tight end but there is more to his game. He can do more. I suspect we will see more production from him as a receiver.
Safety Mike Brown and linebacker KJ Britt add depth and special teams value, specifically Brown who played for Vrabel in Tennessee. Britt is intriguing because of his size (6’0 240) and his athleticism. He is another second contract guy who is in the sweet spot of what the Patriots are looking for in terms of age and potential production.
On paper, the Patriots got better. It may not reflect in their record next season because they are going to be playing a tougher schedule, but on the field, they will be better equipped to beat some of the better teams in the NFL.