Bargain Free-Agents Patriots Must Target

The New England Patriots have swung and missed on a few potentially big acquisitions in the last year, so they may be stuck with adding any players through bargain deals.

The big swings for Calvin Ridley and Brandon Aiyuk did not work out and that leaves the Patriots with an eclectic mix of wide receivers.

The Patriots may only be motivated to bring in big-ticket names, but if they think they need help at wide receiver, there are options out there.

Jerod Mayo and his staff can also look to a few other positions to fill in depth with veteran players as the preseason goes on.

Michael Thomas

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 12: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

If the Patriots wanted to scrape the bargain bin of the free-agent market, Michael Thomas would be the ideal fit at wide receiver.

Thomas is looking for another opportunity after a few injury-riddled years at the end of his New Orleans Saints tenure.

The Patriots have plenty of players on the wide receiver depth chart, but Kendrick Bourne is on the PUP list and Demario Douglas has been dealing with an injury.

New England could bring Thomas in to see what he has, and in the best-case scenario, he earns a role on the 53-man roster.

However, the Patriots may not even want to explore that route to allow Ja'Lynn Polk, JuJu Smith-Schuster and others to get more reps in preseason.

Mason Cole

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PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 03: Pittsburgh Steelers center Mason Cole (61) runs onto the field during the regular season NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 03, 2023 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Patriots are dealing with some injury issues on the offensive interior.

Reserve center Jake Andrews is out for the season and starting guard Cole Strange is on the PUP list with a knee injury.

Mason Cole is one of the better interior linemen left on the free-agent market. He could be a worth a look as an overall reinforcement for the offensive line.

Cole may want to be guaranteed of a starting job with whichever team he signs for, but if the Patriots are committed to adding to best possible players, they can at least give the former Pittsburgh Steelers center a phone call.

Adoree Jackson

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 11:(New York dailies out) Adoree' Jackson #22 of the New York Giants in action against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium on December 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. New York Giants defeated the Green Bay Packers 24-22. (Photo by Mike Stobe/2023 Mike Stobe)

Any extra help at cornerback would not hurt the Patriots in the AFC East.

Adoree Jackson could be added as a depth piece to help the secondary led by Christian Gonzalez.

The Patriots have Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones at the top of their cornerback depth chart, but the quality dips off after the trio.

New England is taking a chance that Shaun Wade, Marco Wilson and others step up to fill in the depth, but if they do not perform well, someone like Jackson is worth a look to deal with all of the pass-heavy attacks within the division.