2022 Patriots' Free Agents

[BigKen]

New England Patriots 2022 Free Agents​

By Scott Neville

The Patriots are coming off of a period where they spent $159.6 million in just nine days of free agency in 2021. They are going to have to spend a lot more to keep their premiere players in Foxborough. The list of upcoming New England Patriots free agents is expansive and features key players on all three phases of the game. The defense could take an extra large hit this offseason if the Patriots cannot bring back some of their stars such as Gilmore, McCourty, Jackson or Hightower. Now, McCourty and Hightower might not even return for the 2022 season so there will likely be some overhaul regardless.

Here are all of the 2022 free agents for the New England Patriots. The AAV is not the players' actual cap hits in 2021.:

PLAYER	POSITION	AGE	FA TYPE	CURRENT AAV
Devin McCourty	FS	35	Unrestricted	$11,500,000
Trent Brown	OT	29	Unrestricted	$9,000,000
Dont’a Hightower	MLB	32	Unrestricted	$8,875,000
J.C. Jackson	CB	27	Unrestricted	$3,384,000
Adrian Philips	S/LB	30	Unrestricted	$3,000,000
Ted Karras	C/G	29	Unrestricted	$3,000,000
Mathew Slater	ST	37	Unrestricted	$2,650,000
James White	RB	30	Unrestricted	$2,462,500
Brandon Bolden	RB	32	Unrestricted	$1,850,000
Brandon King	FS/ST	29	Unrestricted	$1,850,000
Marcus Martin	G	29	Unrestricted	$1,180,000
Raekwon McMillan	MLB	27	Unrestricted	$1,148,500
Harvey Langi	MLB	30	Unrestricted	$1,057,500
Troy Fumagalli	TE	27	Restricted	$850,000
Jakob Johnson	FB	28	Restricted	$850,000
Terez Hall	MLB	26	Exclusive	$695,000
Ja’Whaun Bentley	MLB	26	Unrestricted	$690,989
Jakobi Meyers	WR	26	Restricted	$588,333
Gunner Olszewski	WR	26	Restricted	$585,833

 

[BigKen]

We all have our favorites and opinions about every player. History has shown that Bill Belichick may not be on the same page as we are.

It's expected that the cap will increase in 2022 to $210M, increasing from $185M in 2021. The Patriots should have roughly $75M to spend.

My Keepers:

McCourty (If he doesn't retire)
Brown
Hightower (If he'll take a pay cut)
JC Jackson
Phillips
Karras
White
Bolden
Johnson
Hall
Bentley
Meyers
Gunner

That's 13 out of 19. Critical signings will be JC, Brown, Phillips and Karras.

Lot of young guys tucked away on IR and very good group of guys on the PS.

Then there's the draft and 9 new kids fighting for spots.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

The defense could take an extra large hit this offseason if the Patriots cannot bring back some of their stars such as Gilmore, McCourty, Jackson or Hightower. Now, McCourty and Hightower might not even return for the 2022 season so there will likely be some overhaul regardless.

Who?

 

[molsaniceman]

Who?

guy who left cause we wouldnt pay him more so naturely he will be back next year at a discount

 

[Southieinnc]

guy who left cause we wouldnt pay him more so naturely he will be back next year at a discount

I don't think Simon is coming back. He was so-so on our team that had poor linebacker corps.
He could not get on the field with our current team.

 

[nefansince75]

I don't think Simon is coming back. He was so-so on our team that had poor linebacker corps.
He could not get on the field with our current team.

I think that comment was referring to Gilmore...

 

[cheerupcharlie]

I still think Jackson... Brown and Meyers are the only ones we have to really resign. The rest can be replaced .

 

[BigKen]

I still think Jackson... Brown and Meyers are the only ones we have to really resign. The rest can be replaced .

Jackson and Meyers have both said publicly that they want to stay in New England. Per the Boston Globe: "Jackson's representatives have had several talks with the Patriots to lay the ground for negotiations after the season. Because of the Patriots' cap situation, Bill didn't want to try to jumble numbers without knowing where the cap will be in 2022. "It looks very good that something will get done."

 

[nefansince75]

Jackson and Meyers have both said publicly ...

Sure, and I recall Johnny Damon once saying publicly that he would never play for the Yankees. "Saying publicly" can mean "Posturing" and it could also be true sentiment. Only the future will tell us for sure...

For the record, I believe Damon was sharing a true sentiment "at the time", but the team offered a below market deal versus the Yankee's above market deal. It probably killed him inside to not get a "fair enough" offer from the Sox. The same thing plays out year after year with the Pats and their offers versus what players can get elsewhere.

 

[Southieinnc]

Gilmore better start looking like he can play before he starts negotiating with Patriots.
He'll be another year older and another year slower but available for 20% of the snaps?
Not going to like the "offer" for that.....