Each year free agency for the Patriots is usually pretty anticlimactic. There are certainly exceptions, 2oo7’s acquisition of Adalius Thomas (which was way exciting at the time) and 2014’s signing of Darrelle Revis both stand out as times the Pats did the unexpected and added a big name player. Usually the Patriots’ foray’s into free agency are about building depth, signing underperforming/injured veterans for minimum contracts and seeing if they can revive their careers in New England.
Still, that doesn’t stop the free agency frenzy every offseason in Patriots nation, where every big name free agent is imagine in the Flying Elvis. The thing about the Pats is that you can never say never, so that always keeps the door open for this kind of speculation.
This year’s first object of affection is former Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, who was informed by the team that he would not be back next year. There’s no question, running back is a position for the Patriots to attack this offseason, but is Forte the kind of veteran free agent the Pats could jump on?
Let’s take a closer look.
Bill Belichick on Matt Forte, October 2014 pic.twitter.com/7o343yWZiG
— Christopher Price (@cpriceNFL) February 12, 2016
2004’s addition via trade of Corey Dillon is the ideal outcome, and even though Dillon really only gave the Pats one great season, it was enough to bring home the Super Bowl championship. Forte is coming off 218 carries for 898 yards (4.1 YPC) and four touchdowns, and 44 catches for 389 yards and four receiving touchdowns. 2015 wasn’t Forte’s best season, but it wasn’t too far off from his usual performance. At 31 he should still have some gas in the tank.
The advantage the Patriots have is their belief in backfield-by-committee. While Forte has the ability to run and catch, he wouldn’t have to be an every-down back. Dion Lewis (returning from an ACL tear) and James White both can play in the passing situations. No, Forte’s best use is on first down, where his size and speed would be a welcome addition running between the tackles. Forte’s catching ability also will keep the defense honest in respecting the pass, unlike LeGarrette Blount in 2015, who was thrust into the early-down back role and often had trouble getting his engine going before being lost for the season with a hip injury.
First though, the Patriots must open some cap space, something that is easy to do with the simple decline of Jerod Mayo’s option. There are plenty of other ways the Patriots can and will open cap space before free agency opens, and with no major internal free agents to worry about, they have flexibility.
Even if the Pats sign Matt Forte, it’s a short term fix and one that must be insured against via the draft. They cannot afford to have their power running game be completely destroyed by injuries again in 2016. Tom Brady’s health depends on it.
The real question is how cheaply the Pats can get him. That’s really what it comes down to. Forte says he wants to play for a contender, but with plenty of extensions looming for the Patriots this offseason, they’ll have a price and will stick to it. If that price is amenable to Forte, chances are good he’ll be a Patriot, it just makes too much sense.