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Free Agency

Patriots Re-Sign LeGarrette Blount

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Patriots re-sign LeGarrette Blount

Blount back for another season with the Pats.

In a somewhat expected move, the Patriots re-signed LeGarrette Blount today to a one-year deal. Blount had been sending out pics last week from the Pats’ facility which indicated he’d likely be back with the team for his fourth season with the team.

I could’ve gone either way with bringing Blount back. He’s certainly had some great games for the Pats, usually against the Colts, but last year, when asked to take more of a lead back role, Blount wasn’t able to find much consistency. He failed to break 70 yards rushing after the Pats lost Dion Lewis to injury, and had his season end on IR with a hip injury sustained in Week 13.

As a complimentary piece, Blount is outstanding, especially as a closer once the defense is worn down a bit, but as the depth chart currently sits, the Patriots need to reinforce the position in the draft. Ideally they should add an early-down back who can make something out of nothing, or at the very least, grind out the tough yards early in the game.

Then with Lewis and Blount, the Pats should have the pieces necessary to rebuild their ground game that was decimated by injuries in 2015, and non-existent by the playoffs. Earlier this offseason I wrote how making over the running back position should be a priority this offseason, and though they only added Donald Brown in free agency before this, and exciting addition or two in the draft should give this offense just what they need.

Patriots release Tyler Gaffney

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The Patriots released Tyler Gaffney on Monday, jettisoning one of the players I was most intrigued about heading into training camp this summer. Running back was already a need, and though it seems like LeGarrette Blount should return after posting on social media from the Patriots facility last week, the Pats should take at least one running back in the draft, if not a couple.

I am curious to see what kind of additions the Pats do make in a couple weeks, because after the way they kicked the tires on so many receiving backs early in free agency, I wonder if this is a position that is evolving. We already know the Pats are one of the running-back-by-committee teams and there’s no sign  of that changing, but there seems to be a concerted effort to reinforce the passing game out of the backfield.

Of course, if Dion Lewis returns to the form he showed last year, it will be hard to take him off the field. James White seems like an able back up to Lewis, and one who can hold the fort until Lewis is fully ready to go. I’d assume the Pats will ease Lewis into things as he returns from an ACL tear.

With Blount back in the mix, the Pats would have a closer, but what they still lack is that early down grinder who can get the tough yards and soften up the defense. In a perfect world, I’d love to see a rookie burst on the scene and make for an eventual two-back rotation for the majority of the game with Lewis, with a dash of Blount to finish certain teams (cough Colts) off.

It should be a fun draft despite the Pats not having a first round pick because it’s easy to see them targeting multiple offensive weapons at both running back and wide receiver. Fans (and Tom Brady) love to have exciting new toys to play with and there should be a few on the way in a couple weeks.

 

Which New England Patriots newcomer will have the biggest impact? | masslive.com

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Patriots free agent impact

The New England Patriots acquired Martellus Bennett, Chris Long, Shea McClellin, Jonathan Cooper, Chris Hogan and Donald Brown. Who makes the biggest impact?

Source: Which New England Patriots newcomer will have the biggest impact? | masslive.com

Fun read from Kevin Duffy weighing who will make the biggest impact this season of the newly-added free agents. For me, I think Chris Hogan and Martellus Bennett have the best chance to play the most of the group.

Chris Long should slide into the third defensive end role and should get plenty of action as well. An injury to Jabaal Sheard or Rob Ninkovich would elevate him into starter’s status and I’m betting he’d be ready for that challenge.

Shea McClellin should be the base middle linebacker, which is a one-to-two down role, but as we’ve seen Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins both miss significant time last year, he’s also on a paper-thin verge of an almost every-down role.

Finally Jonathan Cooper will be fascinating to watch this year. He might be the most talented guard on the roster, but that’s no guarantee he beats out the promising second-year guards. Still, if he is able to finally put it all together he could have a huge impact in transforming the Pats’ offensive line from the disaster we saw at various times last year. Pair him with Shaq Mason and the athleticism at the guard position will be through the roof.

I expect Hogan to step into the role Brandon LaFell had in 2014, playing nearly every snap as the primary X/outside receiver. Hard to predict if he’ll earn Brady’s trust the way LaFell did in 2014, if not he’ll look like LaFell in 2015. But he checks every box the Pats look for and if he can get the nickname 7-11 for always being open with shitty QBs, we can only imagine how much Brady should like him.

Bennett should pair with Gronk to form the most unstoppable tight end duo in the league. Again, there’s an element of unknown with any free agent, but on paper that duo can and should play almost every snap. The Pats have never had two tight ends quite like this, with the equal ability to block or catch passes.

If everything clicks there might not be a bigger free agent impact signing in the NFL.

Patriots Sign Terrance Knighton

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Multiple outlets are now reporting that the Patriots signed Terrance Knighton, a defensive tackle whom the Pats last saw blowing up their impotent offense in the 2013 AFC Championship game while he was with Denver.

This now gives the Patriots maybe the best defensive tackle group in Bill Belichick’s history with the team, a group that is so diverse they can play any front and any style of game. Knighton is a monster inside, weighing somewhere around 350 pounds. Pair him with the equally huge Alan Branch and the Pats have over 700 pounds at the heart of the defense.

Patriots sign Terrance KnightonThen there’s the first round picks from the last two drafts – Malcom Brown, who just kept getting better as rookie and was their most solid defensive tackle by the end of the season, and Dominique Easley, the explosive first rounder from 2014, who has flashed huge potential despite having his first two seasons end on IR.

Add in veteran Chris Jones, who missed all of last season, free agent signing Frank Kearse and the always-hanging-on Joe Vellano, and it’s hard to think of a better interior group in the Patriots recent history.

I’m a firm believer that games are won or lost in the trenches and additions like this are the ones that get me most excited. The Patriots now have the size to create incredible problems for offensive lines, especially in the middle. They must choose whether one or both of the 350 pounders need to be double teamed, and either way it’s going to open up matchups on the edges for Rob Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long.

The Patriots’ defense took big strides last season, partly due to an easier schedule that wasn’t the murderer’s row 2014 was. But this year they’ll face every top offense from last season, including the Steelers, Seahawks, Bengals and Cardinals. They’ve added some significant pieces to the front seven and with the continued development of their young stars, this should be one of the most fun defenses in the NFL to watch.

Report: Patriots signed Clay Harbor

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Adam Caplan reported today that the Patriots signed Clay Harbor, their second free agent tight end signing of the offseason. Harbor now joins Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett atop the Patriots’ depth chart.

Patriots sign Clay HarborF-TE Still a Need

The combination of Gronk and Bennett should be deadly as the Pats have never had two top “Y” tight ends who can both block and catch. Harbor is more in the “F” tight end mold, and can be moved around the formation both as a fullback or H-back. With only second-year player AJ Derby as the other move tight end, this signing makes sense.

If there’s on joke that can stick on Bill Belichick’s tenure with the Patriots it’s his attention to tight ends, often to the point of what feels like overkill. When it works, like it did with Benjamin Watson and Dan Graham, and Gronk and Aaron Hernandez, it can be devastating. They’ve certainly built another group with the potential to be devastating this year.

Derby has good size at 6’5″, 256 pounds, but was out of commission for all of last season and has a lot to prove as a former quarterback who had only played a single season at tight end at Arkansas. He still did well enough for the Pats to take him in the sixth round, and he will now have both a mentor and competition in Harbor.

But realistically any “F” tight end, H-back, Fullback or slot receiver is going to have their snaps eaten into by the presence of two great Y tight ends.

 

 

Report: Patriots sign EJ Biggers

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Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports that the Patriots will sign veteran cornerback EJ Biggers to a one year deal. We’ve been waiting for a depth signing at cornerback, and expected it might be Tarrell Brown, who looked like he might be a starter prior to re-injuring his foot early last season.

Biggers has some versatility, seeing time both in the slot and at safety in recent years with the Redskins and Eagles. He played 46 percent of the defensive snaps and 60 percent of the special teams snaps for the Eagles last year, starting three games at cornerback.

He’ll add some veteran depth at the corner position, but I’d still take Brown back as well. Last year we had remarkable health in the secondary. Usually that is one of the hardest hit positions for injuries. While I’d be fine rolling with Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler starting on the outside, with Justin Coleman in the slot for another season, you can never have too many guys for training camp.

This doesn’t affect my view of the draft need for a corner. There are quite a few corners who match up well with the Pats, but whether or not the Pats take them will depend on value not need.

Patriots sign EJ Biggers

Resetting Patriots Free Agency Needs

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Legarrette Blount Patriots Free Agency

Who will carry the ball on early downs?

They’ve had an active free agency period this year with some impressive signings and moves that are right in their wheelhouse, but the Patriots free agency needs are still apparent. Trading for Martellus Bennett and the signing of Shea McClellin are the headline moves, while Chris Hogan should also step into a significant role if he can get on the same page with Tom Brady.

Wide receiver was the biggest need coming into the offseason, and while Hogan isn’t the flashy name many wanted, he fits the mold of what it takes to be successful in this offense in a variety of receiving roles. I’d welcome another signing at the position, at least as camp fodder. The Pats have been linked to James Jones and Anquan Bolden, both are still available, as is Rueben Randle.

Each day that goes by their prices go down a bit as well.

Again, no one left on the market will change the offense like Bennett should at tight end, but the lack of depth is still scary. Wide receiver figures to be a major area of focus in the draft.

The biggest surprise for me of free agency thus far has been the Pats not signing a significant running back. They kicked the tires on a number of backs including Bilal Powell and James Starks before settling on the disappointing Donald Brown. I still see running back as the biggest need facing this team, and while re-signing LeGarrette Blount would certainly help, the Pats need an early-game grinder to loosen up the defense.

Again, running back should be a position to address in the draft and there are a number of options who could step in and help. That’s the beauty of having a rotation, a rookie can immediately play a role. Still, I wouldn’t mind adding Joique Bell to a cheap deal.

Funny how so much of the overreaction to the season-ender was aimed at the offensive line yet Jonathan Cooper isn’t quite what everyone was expecting this offseason. A lot of the speculation was on cutting Marcus Cannon and/or Sebastian Vollmer and bringing in a free agent tackle to start. The depth is now impressive along the interior where the Pats have promising young players two-deep at each guard spot and at center.

No Must-Fill Holes for Draft

My belief was always to find an athletic swing tackle in the draft and groom them for the right tackle spot in 2017. I think tackle can be the first position they target, perhaps even moving up in the second round to get someone they like.

The only position left that the Pats haven’t addressed at all in free agency that they should is at cornerback. I’ve been fine all along brining back Tarrell Brown. He looked like a starter heading into last season before his lingering foot issue caught up with him. If he’s healthy, he’d make sense. They don’t need a sure-fire starter, just a smart vet who can enter the mix against Logan Ryan at right corner.

The biggest chips to fall this offseason will be the internal extensions, which aren’t expecting to begin negotiations until after the draft. There are many significant free agents next offseason, the Pats need to start locking up the core now.

The bulk of the free agency work is done. The front line on both sides of the ball is just about set outside of the questions at running back in specific matchups, although one might wonder what they think about Donald Brown. I see him as camp competition. Maybe the Patriots have higher hopes. They could use some depth in a few areas, but at this point any addition will be likely placeholders to safeguard against having to reach for any needs in the draft.

 

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