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SportsPatriots
Analysis: Examining the Patriots roster after one week of free agency
FOXBORO, MA. – DECEMBER 23: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the game at Gillette Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
By Kevin Duffy | [email protected] | Boston Herald
PUBLISHED: March 16, 2019 at 12:10 am | UPDATED: March 16, 2019 at 11:00 am
It’s free agency week, the one segment of the NFL calendar when the Patriots surrender the spotlight.
On the field, the Pats are an indestructible force going on two decades of winning with whatever style they see fit. If you’re watching football in January or February, you’re watching the Patriots. Off the field, they’re constantly entangled in a bizarre story or controversy. New England’s grip on the NFL’s news cycle is unrelenting.
Unless the news of the week centers on teams signing free agents.
Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell switched teams in the past few days. Most franchises spent like crazy. It was akin to the NBA offseason.
For the Patriots, it was a low-key week in free agency, even by their standards.
In the first few days of the new league year, the most prominent Patriots signing was former Jets defensive tackle Mike Pennel. They re-signed receiver Phillip Dorsett, cornerback Jason McCourty and linebacker John Simon, then added a handful of players who may or may not be on the Week 1 roster.
Here’s a look at where the Patriots stand as they continue to build their team for the 2019 season:
ALL SET
Quarterback: Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Danny Etling
A contract extension for Brady would create necessary cap space. Hoyer is under contract through 2019. The Pats probably want to address this position in the draft, too.
If they extend Brady one season and allow a young quarterback to learn behind him for two years, they could make the transition in 2021. Jimmy Garoppolo was ready to play after two years of learning behind Brady. The hope is that the next quarterback follows a similar trajectory.
Running back: Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, James White, Brandon Bolden, James Develin
Michel is in position to be the workhorse back next season. The Pats like to stack as much depth as possible at running back given the frequency of injuries at the position, so they could take a look at affordable free agents such as Spencer Ware or Cameron Artis-Payne. Bringing back Jeremy Hill, who tore his ACL in the season opener, would make sense, as well.
Interior offensive line: Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Ted Karras, James Ferentz, Jake Eldrenkamp, Brian Schwenke
The Thuney-Andrews-Mason trio begins its fourth season together. Thuney is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so the Pats may want to talk extension this summer. No need to invest in free agents or top draft picks here.
Linebacker: Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts, Ja’Whaun Bentley, John Simon, Calvin Munson, Brandon King
Good depth and a promising young player in Bentley. The Pats are in a great spot at linebacker for the next few seasons.
Safety: Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, Obi Melifonwu, Nate Ebner, Terrence Brooks
McCourty, Chung and Harmon have been together since 2014. Depending on how they feel about the super-athletic Melifonwu, the Pats could add a strong safety via the draft.
Cornerback: Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, Jason McCourty, Jonathan Jones (restricted free agent), Duke Dawson, Keion Crossen
This is probably the strongest position group on the team. The Pats have an All-Pro corner in Gilmore and plenty of youth. Jackson could develop into a star. Jones will be back unless another team parts with a second-round pick to sign him. And McCourty returns on a two-year deal.
MINOR UPGRADES NEEDED
Offensive tackle: Marcus Cannon, Isaiah Wynn, Cole Croston, Dan Skipper, Ryker Mathews
Cannon and Wynn should be the starters next season, but this is a position the Patriots will likely address in the draft. Cannon is 30 years old and has dealt with injuries. The Pats could target a young swing tackle to develop behind him. Last year’s No. 3 tackle, LaAdrian Waddle, is a free agent.
Tight end: Rob Gronkowski, Matt LaCosse, Jacob Hollister, Stephen Anderson, Ryan Izzo
If Gronkowski retires, the tight end position requires an overhaul. If Gronk returns, the Pats should be fine adding a tight end in the draft to serve as his complement/eventual successor. That’s a position they can address in the top three rounds.
LaCosse, a free agent signing from the Broncos, received a two-year deal worth $4.8 million. The contract will reportedly pay him $500,000 guaranteed, which bodes well for his chances of making the squad.
There’s been no word on any connection to high-profile free agents like Jared Cook or Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
Defensive tackle: Lawrence Guy, Mike Pennel, Adam Butler, David Parry, Frank Herron
Guy was the Patriots’ best interior defensive lineman a year ago. The 332-pound Pennel was a solid signing who will step in for Malcom Brown (left for the Saints in free agency). Danny Shelton remains unsigned.
The Patriots may want to add a defensive tackle in the draft — Guy will be 29 and Pennel 28 when training camp opens — but they should be fine for the time being.
Defensive end: Michael Bennett, Deatrich Wise, Derek Rivers, Keionta Davis, Ufomba Kamalu, Trent Harris
Nobody is replacing Trey Flowers, though the Bennett trade helps. Wise is a solid player. Rivers, Davis and Kamalu have upside, and the Patriots hope at least one can emerge as a difference-maker. This is a spot that could be in play with a top draft pick, as Bennett is likely a short-term solution.
MULTIPLE ACQUISITIONS NEEDED
Specialists: Joe Cardona
Without a placekicker or punter under contract, this remains a major question mark. The Patriots will need to pay to retain Stephen Gostkowski, as the Bears and Vikings are also scouring the free agent market for a kicker. Even though he had a down year, converting 84 percent of his field goals, Gostkowski is the top option available.
Bill Belichick, who cares more about special teams than most people care about anything, surely will have a plan in place if he elects to move on from Gostkowski.
Punter Ryan Allen remains a free agent, too.
Wide receiver: Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett, Josh Gordon (restricted free agent/suspended), Maurice Harris, Bruce Ellington, Braxton Berrios, Damoun Patterson, Matthew Slater
Yes, the Patriots won the Super Bowl with Edelman, Chris Hogan and Dorsett as their top receivers. To try to do so again would not be the optimal strategy.
Remember. the Pats actually had strong depth at the position going into training camp last summer. But injuries to Kenny Britt, Jordan Matthews and Malcolm Mitchell swiftly wiped away that depth.
Right now, they’re not even close to what they had a year ago. They’re not done adding wideouts.
Because the Patriots have struggled to develop receivers through the draft, and because the free agent market has thinned out, this could be a position to target in a trade.
The Pats might as well call up the Giants and check on the availability of Sterling Shepard, a dynamic slot receiver who would shred in the New England offense. Shepard is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and New York general manager Dave Gettleman seems intent on overhauling the roster.
Michael Crabtree and Jordy Nelson are viable stop-gap options in free agency if nothing enticing materializes on the trade market.
Packers receiver Geronimo Allison, a restricted free agent, is an intriguing talent. Green Bay placed the lowest tender on Allison, which means any team that signs him would not need to hand over draft pick compensation.
