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With the opt outs, Patriots cap space is now $21M.
Several media people are talking about the rumor that Bill Belichick has contacted the agent of ........
Patriots have interesting salary cap options after opt-outs, including Jadeveon Clowney
HAMMERED: Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney sends Tom Brady to the turf after the Pats quarterback released a pass during their game Saturday night in Foxboro. Staff photo by Matt Stone
By KAREN GUREGIAN | [email protected] | Boston Herald
PUBLISHED: July 28, 2020 at 2:29 p.m. | UPDATED: July 28, 2020 at 5:03 p.m.
Player opt-outs have left the Patriots with significant holes to fill.
Obviously, this is not the best news for Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. While it’s understandable for players to do what’s best for them and their families during a pandemic, it’s certainly not what he’s looking for as he moves on from Tom Brady.
A possible silver lining?
All of a sudden, the cap-strapped Patriots have money to spend. The team’s cap space has shot up to well over $20 million this season, per Boston Sports Journal cap guru Miguel Benzan, with the six opt-outs. With that extra room, they could jump back into the free agency pool this year, and do their best to make up for some of the losses.
TOP ARTICLES1/5READ MOREWalsh ‘certainly concerned’ about return of Boston colleges
Stud pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney is still out there, biding his time. He’s an intriguing option who would help soothe the loss of Dont’a Hightower. With an already depleted linebacking corps, losing Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts in free agency, the addition of Clowney would stop some of the bleeding.
It’s certainly an attractive option for 2020, if the Patriots could pull it off.
Another?
Make do with what they have in-house, perhaps adding a few veteran free agents who won’t make as much of a dent in the cap number as Clowney, and surge ahead.
That way, they can proceed in a crazy, pandemic-infused season that might not see a start or finish, while rolling their cap space to next year when everything’s closer to normal. As it is, the Patriots were expected to be among the league leaders in terms of cap room in 2021, with roughly $59 million.
With all that money in reserve for next season, it would allow the Patriots to beef up a roster that’s in need of a talent infusion. They could undertake a legitimate reload with more than $75 million on the books to spend. All that space would help extend star cornerback Stephon Gilmore or re-sign Cam Newton if he plays well in 2020.
Basically, everything’s in play if the Patriots stand pat.
Or maybe Belichick sees a path to the Super Bowl with all the unforeseen circumstances, and wants to make a splash now, using the money on a top-end player.
With Hightower out, the Patriots have basically lost their entire starting linebacking corps from last year. That unit could use an immediate boost if Belichick believes his team can still contend with Newton at quarterback.
While there are other suitors for Clowney, namely the Seahawks and Jets, the Pats could make a unique pitch to the 27-year-old star, who like Hightower, is an impact player. Maybe it’s a 1-year deal that allows him to land an even more lucrative contract in 2021 and an opportunity to play in Belichick’s defense.
He’s certainly a system fit. For years, he was effective with the Texans under former defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who essentially adopted the Patriots’ scheme.
And Clowney’s a complete player. He’s actually had more impact as a run defender than pass-rusher. He’s received Pro Football Focus run-defense grades about 75.0 for five straight years.
Clowney wants to be paid like a top edge rusher ($20 million per year or more), even if his numbers don’t grade out in that category. Either way, the Patriots should at least kick the tires on the three-time Pro Bowl player and see what shakes out.
Barring that move, there really aren’t too many other options in free agency that would fit the bill and come close to mitigating the loss of Hightower, even if they don’t exactly play the same position. Perhaps they can find a trade partner, but the best move would be to plug the holes with in-house solutions, hope for the best, then make hay in 2021.
The Pats have ample depth at safety. They can also get creative on the offensive line, and perhaps add a veteran for depth. Filling the Hightower void is the toughest. The leadership element provided by both Hightower and Patrick Chung is another issue that must be dealt with.
Several media people are talking about the rumor that Bill Belichick has contacted the agent of ........
Patriots have interesting salary cap options after opt-outs, including Jadeveon Clowney
HAMMERED: Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney sends Tom Brady to the turf after the Pats quarterback released a pass during their game Saturday night in Foxboro. Staff photo by Matt Stone
By KAREN GUREGIAN | [email protected] | Boston Herald
PUBLISHED: July 28, 2020 at 2:29 p.m. | UPDATED: July 28, 2020 at 5:03 p.m.
Player opt-outs have left the Patriots with significant holes to fill.
Obviously, this is not the best news for Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. While it’s understandable for players to do what’s best for them and their families during a pandemic, it’s certainly not what he’s looking for as he moves on from Tom Brady.
A possible silver lining?
All of a sudden, the cap-strapped Patriots have money to spend. The team’s cap space has shot up to well over $20 million this season, per Boston Sports Journal cap guru Miguel Benzan, with the six opt-outs. With that extra room, they could jump back into the free agency pool this year, and do their best to make up for some of the losses.
TOP ARTICLES1/5READ MOREWalsh ‘certainly concerned’ about return of Boston colleges
Stud pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney is still out there, biding his time. He’s an intriguing option who would help soothe the loss of Dont’a Hightower. With an already depleted linebacking corps, losing Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts in free agency, the addition of Clowney would stop some of the bleeding.
It’s certainly an attractive option for 2020, if the Patriots could pull it off.
Another?
Make do with what they have in-house, perhaps adding a few veteran free agents who won’t make as much of a dent in the cap number as Clowney, and surge ahead.
That way, they can proceed in a crazy, pandemic-infused season that might not see a start or finish, while rolling their cap space to next year when everything’s closer to normal. As it is, the Patriots were expected to be among the league leaders in terms of cap room in 2021, with roughly $59 million.
With all that money in reserve for next season, it would allow the Patriots to beef up a roster that’s in need of a talent infusion. They could undertake a legitimate reload with more than $75 million on the books to spend. All that space would help extend star cornerback Stephon Gilmore or re-sign Cam Newton if he plays well in 2020.
Basically, everything’s in play if the Patriots stand pat.
Or maybe Belichick sees a path to the Super Bowl with all the unforeseen circumstances, and wants to make a splash now, using the money on a top-end player.
With Hightower out, the Patriots have basically lost their entire starting linebacking corps from last year. That unit could use an immediate boost if Belichick believes his team can still contend with Newton at quarterback.
While there are other suitors for Clowney, namely the Seahawks and Jets, the Pats could make a unique pitch to the 27-year-old star, who like Hightower, is an impact player. Maybe it’s a 1-year deal that allows him to land an even more lucrative contract in 2021 and an opportunity to play in Belichick’s defense.
He’s certainly a system fit. For years, he was effective with the Texans under former defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who essentially adopted the Patriots’ scheme.
And Clowney’s a complete player. He’s actually had more impact as a run defender than pass-rusher. He’s received Pro Football Focus run-defense grades about 75.0 for five straight years.
Clowney wants to be paid like a top edge rusher ($20 million per year or more), even if his numbers don’t grade out in that category. Either way, the Patriots should at least kick the tires on the three-time Pro Bowl player and see what shakes out.
Barring that move, there really aren’t too many other options in free agency that would fit the bill and come close to mitigating the loss of Hightower, even if they don’t exactly play the same position. Perhaps they can find a trade partner, but the best move would be to plug the holes with in-house solutions, hope for the best, then make hay in 2021.
The Pats have ample depth at safety. They can also get creative on the offensive line, and perhaps add a veteran for depth. Filling the Hightower void is the toughest. The leadership element provided by both Hightower and Patrick Chung is another issue that must be dealt with.
