New England Patriots' Updated to-Do List Ahead of Free Agency
We're now on the verge of the 2017 edition of NFL free agency. Teams can begin contacting the representatives of players at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday. They can begin officially signing them at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday. These next few days are going to be critical for every team, even the defending champion New England Patriots.
The Patriots got off to an early start by re-signing fullback James Develin on Monday, but they still have a lot of work to do. Pending free agents include Dont'a Hightower, Martellus Bennett, LeGarrette Blount, Logan Ryan and Jabaal Sheard. Re-signing some of these guys has to be a priority—as does signing some helpful external free agents.
We're here to take one last look at the Patriots' to-do list before the unofficial start of free agency begins on Tuesday. We'll be examining the moves the Patriots need to make over the next few weeks in order to prime the team for another Super Bowl run and to strengthen the team for beyond.
Just to be clear, we're focusing on the immediate portion of the offseason, so only contract negotiations, potential free-agent moves and trade options will be examined. We'll leave the draft talk for a future date.
Re-Sign Dont'a Hightower
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We've grown relatively used to seeing the Patriots allow productive players leave in free agency over the years. However, the team does seem to do a good job of retaining the players central to the team's core. Linebacker Dont'a Hightower appears to be one such player, yet New England has yet to get a deal done with the Pro Bowler.
Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported earlier this month that the team and Hightower were still having "productive dialogue."
There's a chance that the Patriots are interested in allowing other teams to contact Hightower in order to set his value. However, this could prove risky because New England isn't likely to overspend too much in order to keep him.
If New England can find an acceptable deal with Hightower, the team should get it done. Hightower, who turns 27 on Sunday, is the type of defensive centerpiece the Patriots could build around for the foreseeable future. Pro Football Focus rated him fifth overall among all inside linebackers for the 2016 season.
Overpaying Hightower is probably out of the question, but paying him handsomely isn't. According to Spotrac, the Patriots are expected to have nearly $60 million in cap space when the market opens. The Patriots could realistically afford to pay Hightower in the $12-13 million-per-year range, which be right around the contract held by Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly.
While the Patriots may have to balk at an offer higher than $13 million per year, they should everything within reason to keep this key defender in the fold.
Figure out What to Do with Jimmy Garoppoo
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One thing the Patriots don't necessarily need to do this offseason—but should do anyway—is determine definitively if they want to keep quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for the long term—if they haven't already.
ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported that the Patriots do not intend to trade Garoppolo this offseason. This is fine and all, but that's a bit difficult to believe 100 percent at this smoke-filled point in the offseason.
"Looks like the Patriots are trying to create leverage for a trade," Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas said of the report, via Twitter.
The Browns, of course, are one of the teams that could be interested in trading to acquire Garoppolo.
So the Patriots need to decide if Garoppolo really is the long-term heir to Tom Brady—which means they also need to find out how long the 39-year-old Brady plans to keep playing. If he is, then he should be unavailable at any cost and the Patriots should actually look into an extension now. If the team isn't sold on Garoppolo or believes that he won't be willing to sit behind Brady for another three or four years, then moving him now makes the most sense.
Garoppolo is scheduled to become a free agent next offseason. If New England gives him the franchise tag, they may or may not be able to get something in return in 2018. If the Patriots allow Garoppolo to walk in free agency, they definitely will not.
Address the Running Back Position
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It would make a ton of sense for the Patriots to re-sign LeGarrette Blount to another short-term deal, even if the team is eyeing a running back in the draft. Doing so would ensure that the team maintains continuity at the position while a young running back learns the offense.
However, Yahoo NFL writer Charles Robinson believes the Patriots are preparing to lose Blount in free agency.
"Got the sense Patriots believe someone is going to make RB LeGarrette Blount an offer they won't match, Robinson said on Sunday via Twitter. "I believe they're prepping for it."
If the Patriots aren't going to retain Blount, they might want to consider other options. These options could depend on what the team is planning to do in the draft.
Adding a back like Adrian Peterson could make sense if the Patriots aren't thinking of drafting a young back this year. Assuming Peterson is healthy, he could be the perfect early-down bruiser to complement Dion Lewis and James White.
Latavius Murray is another guy New England might consider as a starting option. At 27 years old, Murray could be more of a long-term option. Even though he only rushed for 788 yards last season, he averaged 4.0 yards per carry.
If the Patriots are thinking of drafting a back but not re-signing Blount, the team should still consider some veteran insurance. Guys like James Starks and DeAngelo Williams could fit in this scenario. Either could fill in as a spot starter if needed and could allow the team to bring a rookie along slowly.
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Address the Cornerback Position
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While Hightower is the pending defensive free agent garnering all the attention, it would be a mistake to ignore the fact cornerback Logan Ryan is also set to hit the open market. Ryan started 13 games in 2016 and was rated 38th overall among all cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus.
The best move would be for the Patriots to reach a new deal with Ryan, who is just 26 years old. However, this may not be possible, especially if the Patriots pay to keep Hightower. Janoris Jenkins got a five-year, $62.5 million deal in free agency last year, and Ryan could command an even bigger contract this year.
If the Patriots cannot keep Ryan, they need to add a veteran corner from outside the organization. Even if the team plans to draft a pass defender early, the experience and leadership a veteran brings will be important.
The tricky part here is finding a cornerback who isn't going to break the bank—otherwise, the team should just pay Ryan.
There are plenty of starting-caliber cornerbacks set to hit the market—including Brandon Carr, Prince Amukamara, Stephon Gilmore, Davon House and Alterraun Verner. However, at least some of these guys are likely to command contract dollars similar to those thrown Ryan's way.
Perhaps a value option like Dre Kirkpatrick or 38-year-old Terence Newman could fit the bill instead.
Whatever the Patriots decide to do, they need to add a quality veteran cornerback to their secondary. The unit, which was rated first in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus, was one of the biggest strengths of the team in 2016.
Extend Malcolm Butler
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Cornerback Malcolm Butler has developed into one of the best cornerbacks in the entire NFL. He was an unknown hero in Super Bowl XLIX. This past season, Pro Football Focus rated him fifth overall among all cornerbacks.
Unlike some players on this list, Butler will be under contract in 2017. He is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and the Patriots can choose to retain him with as high as a first-round tender. However, it would make the most sense to reach an extension with Butler before the new league year begins.
If the Patriots accomplished this, there wouldn't be a chance of losing Butler at all this offseason. It would also allow the Patriots to extend Butler on their own terms rather than having to match an offer sheet in order to keep him.
Even giving Butler the first-round tender could be risky, as teams could easily view him worth a first-round pick.
The bottom line, though, is that the Patriots should be working to extend Butler now. This would ensure Butler stays with the team this season and avoids the kind of contract situation next season that the team currently has with Hightower and Ryan. Otherwise, the Patriots could be dealing with the prospect of franchising Butler next year.
Signing Butler to an extension now instead of next year could also save the team quite a bit of money, as the price for quality cornerbacks is only going to go up.
Extend Julian Edelman and Nate Solder
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While the Patriots are working to extend Butler, they might as well go ahead and try working on extensions for receiver Julian Edelman and offensive tackle Nate Solder. While New England isn't in danger of losing either of these players this offseason, both are scheduled to be free agents in 2018.
Both Solder and Edelman are franchise-caliber players. Edelman is a perfect fit for New England's offense and was rated 31st overall among all wide receivers by Pro Football Focus this past season. Solder is one of the top left tackles in the game. Pro Football Focus rated him fifth among all tackles last season.
Locking up both of these guys could help make next offseason go a lot more smoothly for New England. Having the two of them hit free agency at the same time could create a situation that is difficult to manage.
Getting deals done now might also allow the Patriots to free up some cap room and make a new deal for a guy like Hightower or Ryan.
Sign a Pass-Rusher
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The Patriots defense was pretty darn good in 2016, but it did have a couple of flaws. The most notable was a pass rush that was rated just 24th in the league by Pro Football Focus. With New England set to lose defensive ends Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long in free agency, the team should make a pass-rusher a priority.
Neither Sheard nor Long was special last season, but the two did combine for nine sacks. Re-signing Sheard makes the most sense out of the two. He is only 27 years old and was rated 15th overall among all 4-3 defensive ends by Pro Football Focus last season.
Calais Campbell of the Arizona Cardinals could be another option, as the Cardinals don't appear likely to retain him. Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports that Campbell and safety Tony Jefferson are likely on their way out of Arizona.
Campbell produced eight sacks last season.
Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Perry, who had 11 sacks in 2016, could be another external option, as could Buffalo Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander. While Alexander is an aging option (he'll be 34 in a couple months), he could prove productive in New England. He had 12.5 sacks last season with the Bills.
Alexander could be enticed into signing a one-year deal in order to chase a ring the way Long did last season.
Regardless of how the team goes about it, the Patriots need to at least address the pass rush before the draft, even if a pass-rusher is a high priority there.
Acquire a Quality Receiver
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Wide receiver isn't necessarily a huge need for the Patriots this offseason—not with a draft full of talent looming and guys like Edelman still under contract. However, it appears that New England is quite interested in adding a veteran wideout sooner than later.
According to Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com, the Patriots have already made an offer for New Orleans Saints wideout Brandin Cooks but were turned down. That offer reportedly included the team's 32nd overall pick as part of the deal.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports that the Patriots also have interest in recently released former New York Jets receiver Brandon Marshall.
If the Patriots really are interested in acquiring a veteran wide receiver, they should make it happen. In addition to Marshall, the free-agent pool is expected to have the likes of Terrelle Pryor, DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery and Kenny Stills.
According to NFL Network's Steve Smith Sr., former San Francisco 49ers wideout Torrey Smith, a former teammate of his in Baltimore, is also set to hit the market.
Acquiring a veteran receiver either by trade or via free agency makes sense if New England is looking at other positions at the top of the draft. Perhaps the Patriots could grab a wideout now and target one of the draft's talented tight ends to replace Martellus Bennett.
The Patriots don't appear likely to overpay to keep Bennett but would almost certainly enjoy having a complement for Rob Gronkowski. The free-agent market for tight ends is weak, so adding a veteran receiver and targeting a rookie end could be the play here. If so, the Patriots need to accomplish the first part of the plan this week.
All contract information via Spotrac.com.
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