10 Patriots Free Agency Targets

It’s March!! We will officially change the football calendar over to 2018 this month with the start of the new league year and free agency on March 15th. The Patriots have plenty of internal moves to make before hitting the external market, but here are 10 guys that stuck out to me based on what I see the needs being after they make some cuts and new deals.

I could see the Patriots letting Nate Solder test the market, but he’s got to be the first priority and domino to fall. From there the running back and defensive front seven positions must be addressed. There’s some uncertainty at tight end as well, as the endless search for a perfect compliment to Rob Gronkowski continues.

While the Pats have made plenty of recent splashy signings in free agency, these names are primarily in the Pats’ wheelhouse — promising players who disappointed or got hurt, and vets maybe looking for one last shot at a ring. If the Pats do make a big move I’d hope it would be in the defensive front.

• Isaiah Crowell – His fit will depend on whether or not the Pats give Mike GIllislee another shot. Gillislee’s seen as a potential cut, but with Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead free agents, why not hang on to Gillislee as long as they can to see how everything plays out. Crowell runs with a similar style but would unlikely be cheaper than Gillislee’s $2.2 million cap hit.
• Bilal Powell – Likewise, Powell could be an intriguing alternative to Lewis and/or Burkhead. My gut is Lewis walks, Burkhead stays, so Powell could be just the kind of balanced threat that fits perfectly in the Pats’ offense.
• Charles Sims – Sims is one of those promising guys who had a down year, but he’s a capable receiving back who’s caught 129 balls in his first four seasons with the Bucs.
• Connor Barwin – Barwin has always screamed Patriots defensive fit to me. I thought it when he was getting drafted, I thought it every time he’s hit free agency. He’s just the kind of versatile leader that could reinforce areas of need both on the field and off it.
• Trent Murphy – Murphy is coming off a lost season to an ACL tear but he’s another tough versatile piece who could do a lot for the Patriots’ defense.
• Trey Burton – A versatile tight end Burton could help take some heat off of Rob Gronkowski and the slot receivers. The Pats ran out of “shallow threats” in 2017 and Burton could help.
• Luke Willson – A more traditional approach at tight end, Willson would be a solid number two, likely cheaper than Martellus Bennett (cut and re-sign perhaps?) and Dwayne Allen (likely cut).
• Anthony Fasano – Fasano is another veteran that just plays the way Parcells/Belichick want their second or third tight end to play. He brings a veteran presence as well as toughness.
• Muhammad Wilkerson/Kyle Williams – I’ve enjoyed watching these two guys for a long time so I’ve got to throw them on here together. Both are probably free agent long shots, but never rule out players Belichick has seen a lot of and admires. Especially with the help the Pats need in their front seven.
• Christian Jones – An athletic linebacker who never put it all together in Chicago but seems like a really good fit for New England. I’m betting his former Bear teammate Shea McClellan will stick around for another season and Jones could make a nice piece to go with Hightower and Van Noy as well.