Contracts Patriots Must Consider Cutting in 2024 Offseason

The New England Patriots will press into the 2024 offseason with a new leader, loads of cap space and important decisions to make in the NFL draft.

The first order of business, however, will be to take a good look at their current roster and decide who needs to stay and who should go. Bill Belichick was the team's de facto general manager. With the legendary coach leaving, the front office could go in a different direction.

Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston reported that the team does not intend to hire a new general manager but Matt Groh and Eliot Wolf will take on larger roles when it comes to personnel.

The tandem doesn't have a messy cap situation to clean up. The Patriots have $70.1 million in cap space which is third in the league, per Spotrac.

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CB J.C. Jackson

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 26: J.C. Jackson #29 of the New England Patriots reacts after a play during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

This one is the easiest decision and was probably made the day that the Patriots decided when they traded for the Chargers for J.C. Jackson back in October.

The 28-year-old cornerback struggled mightily in Los Angeles after signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Chargers in free agency. He was nowhere near the player he was when he earned a second-team All-Pro with the Patriots in 2021.

For the Patriots, it was a low-risk investment. They took on Jackson but his $14.4 million that he's due next season is not guaranteed so the Patriots can cut him without any dead cap and clear all of that space to increase an already big budget to fix the roster.

Jackson ended the season on the Non-Football Injury list and his agent, Neil Schwartz, said that his client was dealing with mental health issues, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Even if the Patriots believe they can help Jackson reach his previous form it would still make sense to cut him and re-sign him to a much more reasonable deal. He only wound up playing two games for them last season but he did get an interception.

DT Davon Godchaux

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FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 10: Davon Godchaux #92 of the New England Patriots celebrates after a play during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

There aren't a lot of cap casualties on a team that has over $70 million in cap space, but if the Patriots evaluate how they are spending their money it's not hard to envision them parting ways with Godchaux.

The Patriots need to find answers at nearly every premium position right now. Needs at wide receiver, offensive tackle, cornerback and edge rusher aren't going to have cheap answers unless they come from the draft.

So when they consider that they are set to pay a nose tackle $11.7 million next season they might want to consider that they could create $8.2 million in space by releasing the 29-year-old.

Godchaux offers little help as a pass rusher. He only has 5.5 career sacks in seven seasons. This year, he ranked 102nd out of 130 interior defenders graded by PFF.

A run-stuffing nose tackle is great to have when you are a few pieces away from a championship and need to have a well-rounded defense to get through the playoffs. However, it's a luxury that doesn't really get the Patriots any closer to being relevant in the division.

The Patriots aren't all that desperate for cap space so they could let Godchaux finish out his contract, but they need to at least consider parting ways.

WR DeVante Parker

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FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 17: New England Patriots wide receiver DeVante Parker (1) carries the ball during a game between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs on December 17, 2023, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Unlike the first two names on this list, there really isn't a financial benefit to cutting DeVante Parker. The dead cap charge would actually be slightly over the cap hit for the season.

However, cutting him and designating him as a post-June 1 cut would open the door to $1.4 million in cap savings.

This isn't a cost-cutting move, though. It's about taking the wide receiver room in a new direction. Parker is 31 years old and has struggled with injuries throughout his career. He has missed four games in each of the last two seasons and hasn't played a full season since 2019.

Even when he's been healthy he hasn't really produced since joining the Patriots in 2022. He caught 33 of his 55 targets this season for just 394 yards and no touchdowns.

Despite his struggles, he still led the Patriots receivers in snaps with 581 on the year.

Regardless of who the quarterback is next season the Patriots have to have a better receiving corps. The options they should be looking at are either better or younger than Parker.

Either way, having him on the roster could eat into snaps that should be reserved for players who fit in better with the direction they are going.