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Free Agency

Patriots sign Shea McClellin

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What a day Wednesday was! Just when we thought we had the Martellus Bennett deal to digest for a bit, the Patriots sign Shea McClellin, a linebacker also from the Bears, to a reported three-year deal.

I can’t lie, I really like this signing because McClellin was one of my favorite players coming out of the 2012 draft. I had him 12th overall on my Patriots-only big board. McClellin started out as a defensive end but seemed to find his stride once he was moved to linebacker in 2014. What I loved about him was his athleticism, and now, joining Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins, McClellin should fit right in.

Experience Everywhere

He has experience doing just about everything the Pats could ask him to do — rushing the passer, playing in space, covering. You can easily see him atop the depth chart at middle linebacker in regular, or doing any number of things in a sub-package. This is essentially what they do with Collins and Hightower now and why McClellin’s athleticism and versatility make so much sense for New England.

In short, he’s the perfect kind of swiss army knife Belichick loves and best of all he fills a significant need at linebacker. It also makes me happy to see it being a three-year deal. You love to have guys like Chris Long and Bennett brought in, but on one-year deals you know you can’t get too attached.

That’s not the case with McClellin, who should see a significant role on defense and compliment Hightower and Collins really well. Jonathan Freeny now slides down the depth chart and can focus more on special teams. The lack of an impact third linebacker really killed the Pats last year and they should add another one in the draft as well. But for now, McClellin solidifies things at the top.

So yes, that makes four former first round picks in two days for the Pats (not that I’m holding much hope for getting anything out of Donald Brown but still…).

I’m liking how this 2016 team is shaping up.

Patriots Acquire Martellus Bennett in Trade

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Patriots acquire Martellus Bennett

Rob Gronkowski has a new tight end buddy.

It’s been an interesting two days in Patriots Nation. One day after trading Chandler Jones and signing Chris Long, the Patriots acquire Martellus Bennett and a sixth round pick in a trade with Chicago Bears for a fourth round pick.

After seeing him in Hard Knocks with the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie, I always got the impression Bennett was somewhat of a space cadet and that always scared me away from tying him to the Patriots. But it seems like he’s matured a bit and the fact that he’s got just one year left on his deal should be huge motivation for him to (not) keep it weird.

If Bennett has a big year he should cash in next offseason, when he’s still just 30 years old.

Belichick Loves Him Some 12 Personnel

This is another attempt to position a tower of power opposite Rob Gronkowski as the Pats did last year with Scott Chandler to mixed-at-best results. Bennett had 53 catches and three touchdowns in 11 games last season, and those total are almost certain to go up. With Gronkowski pulling coverage, especially in the red zone, the Pats should be deadly inside the 20.

In 2014, Bennett had 90 catches and six touchdowns. The numbers are promising if he can assimilate into the Patriots locker room, one known to not take kindly to guys who aren’t on the same page as everyone else. Nothing wrong with personality, but the focus must be on football first and foremost.

This is the kind of move you never really see coming, in part because it was a trade, but also because the Pats already have the best tight end in the game. It’s telling that the team felt the need to actively pursue a second tight end who is a proven playmaker. Last year’s team, without the emergence of Chandler, were unable to run the two tight end offense with any consistency. Brady never developed a trust in Chandler and he was all but eliminated from the gameplan in the AFC Championship, playing just five snaps.

As a result, they relied more on three wide receiver sets, featuring more of Danny Amendola than a big tight end. This made the offense less physically demanding to play against, and now it would appear they’ve once again committed to re-establishing the personnel package that they had before Aaron Hernandez went on a killing spree.

The Pats also signed running back Donald Brown today in a move that I hope makes him nothing more than a seat filler for a promising rookie draft pick. Brown has had two quiet years in San Diego after busting in Indianapolis as a first-round pick. This is classic Patriots, fill every hole on the roster before the draft so you don’t have to make any rash moves to fill holes.

Patriots Free Agency Analysis: Value Strikes Again

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No one values value more than Bill Belichick and that’s just what has been on display once again in Patriots free agency this year. In years past, I took a look at just how Belichick maximizes value, turning single draft picks into multiple players and future draft picks.

The 28th overall pick in the 2007 draft was turned into Randy Moss, Jerod Mayo, Shawn Crable, Ryan Mallet and then this year’s 7th rounder from Houston that they got for Mallet. That’s right, nine years later the value of that one pick is still paying dividends.

The 23rd overall pick in 2009 was turned into Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Darius Butler and Brandon Tate. Gronk and Edelman are the core of the Patriots offensive weaponry, while Butler and Tate have gone on to have solid pro careers even though not in New England.

This is what Belichick understands, that the draft is a crapshoot and even when you get good players they often get injured. The only way to consistently build a good football team that can overcome the under-performance and injuries that plague all professional football teams is to have quality depth and always work to strengthen that depth.

This philosophy was on display once again yesterday when the Patriots effectively flipped Chandler Jones for a 2nd round pick, and a once-promising guard in Jonathan Cooper, while also adding defensive end Chris Long at less than half what Jones was scheduled to make. Jones was a talented player who would’ve made an impact for the Patriots in 2016, but the long-term health and overall depth of the franchise is once again what the Patriots gained by making these kind of trades and acquisitions.

Long has had two years of injuries, but had never missed a game prior to 2014. It’s very possible that Long will rejuvenate his career if he can stay healthy in New England, and could easily be a more impactful pass rusher than Jones would’ve been. At the very least, Long will likely get his first taste of the playoffs and by that time he should be playing with his hair on fire. That’s the kind of play that helps you win championships.

As for Cooper, the Patriots loved him coming out of college but never had a shot at him as he went 7th overall in 2013. This is what makes the Patriots even more impressive, they rarely get a chance at the best talent in the draft. Instead they have to wait until they either fall out of favor or have their careers derailed by injuries. That’s when they pounce. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 12.50.50 PMThere’s no denying Cooper has talent and if he can find a way to rekindle that, the Patriots will have improved a vital part of their offensive line. If anyone can get to Cooper, it’s Dante Scarnecchia.

But perhaps most important is the second round pick. The Patriots now have both the 60th and 61st picks in the draft, and by the draft value chart that’s enough to package and get them all the way into the top of the second round, if not the late first round. That kind of flexibility is invaluable and opens up a number of doors that were closed to them without it.

Once again, it’s all about value, and with 11 draft picks the Patriots have the ammo to do as they please during draft day, maximizing each and every pick not only for this year but for the years to come.

 

 

Patriots Sign Chris Long

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After shipping Chandler Jones to Arizona, the Patriots signed Chris Long to fill the hole in their defensive end rotation late Tuesday night.

Long was released by the Rams earlier in the offseason after an injury-riddled 2014 spilled over into 2015, knocking the former second-overall pick from the ranks of elite NFL pass rushers. Long has 54.5 sacks in his eight year career and hadn’t missed a game until 2014.

His best two seasons were 2011 and 2012 when he had 24.5 sacks. But since then it’s been two years to forget with the Rams, though I’m sure most of them were pretty forgettable when they were losing so many games. Still, Long was a big part of one of the better defenses in the league, despite their record.

Perhaps most telling is that Long has never been to the playoffs. Signing a one-year contract with the Patriots almost certainly figures to change that. He’ll be trying to follow a long list of one-year hired guns who were able to revive their career with the Pats then go on to sign a significant contract elsewhere.

Long will be just 31 later this month and should still have something left in the tank to give the Pats. After letting Jones go, the Pats figure to have Rob Ninkovich and Jabaal Sheard as their starters, with Long, Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom and Rufus Johnson competing to be part of the rotation or at least a designated pass rusher.

That’s what should help Long more than anything, not being forced to play every down and being selectively positioned to excel and do what he does best — get after the passer. If Long can revive his explosive get off the Patriots upgraded their pass rush on this day.

 

Chris Long and Eric Weddle (Maybe) Visiting Patriots

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Couple of interesting visits being reported today, with veterans Chris Long and Eric Weddle taking a tour of Gillette Stadium and possibly working out for the Patriots. Neither position, defensive end nor safety, are among the top needs for the Pats, which makes the possible additions of these two players interesting.

Note – Tom E. Curran just tweeted this so take the Weddle visit with a grain of salt:

Let’s start with Long. Look, I don’t see how anyone could ever say no to a second overall pick who is just turning 31 in 11 days known for his high motor. There’s no question that Long’s production dipped last season, but you can never ever have too much pass rush in this league. How would Long potentially fit? Well, it’s certainly a log jam with Rob Ninkovich, Chandler Jones and Jabaal Sheard atop the depth chart, with second-year players Tre Flowers and Geneo Grissom, along with Rufus Johnson in the mix.

Long has spent his career going forward, not dropping into space, something the Pats do like to do with their defensive ends at times. However, in a sub pass rusher role, where he could be moved around while also having his snaps managed a bit away from running downs, it could make sense schematically. After eight long seasons with the Rams, Long might be rejuvenated playing for a team like New England, and even a two-year deal would give the Pats a tiny bit of security with Ninkovich, Jones and Sheard all entering the last years of their deals.

As always, it will likely just come down to money, but Long is just the kind of situation where you can’t rule out him taking a low-end offer to have a shot to play with the big bad Patriots.

As for Weddle, it’s a little harder to see the fit as ideally he’d play Devin McCourty‘s free safety role. Still, Weddle can do it all on the back end and is as smart as they come. Again, the Pats are pretty set with their top three safety rotation from the last two years, with second year player Jordan Richards filling in from time to time.

So you have to wonder how Weddle would fit. Would he allow McCourty to stay at free safety at all times instead of using him in tight end coverage from time to time? Those were the snaps Duron Harmon would come on and cover the back end. Or would he compete directly with Patrick Chung for the strong safety spot who primarily plays in the box and covered tight ends on early downs? Chung is coming off his best year as a pro and is signed through 2017 with very manageable cap hits. Weddle is also three years older than Chung.

Here’s the bottom line, the Pats have given plenty of former star veterans from shitty teams a chance to come and compete for jobs, even when there isn’t a clear fit. Rodney Harrison, the last safety to make the jump from the Chargers, is a great example. With two talented guys like Long and Weddle, if you can make the finances work, it’s a no-brainer to add them to the squad and see how it all plays out.

Both players will undoubtedly have a number of teams interested, many of which will pay more than the Pats will. But we have the Patriots winning tradition going for us and you can never rule out players wanting a real chance at a ring.

 

Sunday Patriots Roundup

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Things have been quiet this weekend for the Pats as free agency settles in and loses the frantic pace. This is when the Pats do their damage as value comes to the forefront.

Saturday’s re-signing of Nate Ebner was expected because really, who values great special teams free agents more than the Patriots? Ebner has been another one of those fascinating draft stories, going from a rugby player, to bit player on the Ohio State football team to suddenly being draft by the only team who could see his potential.

Ebner hasn’t been a total stranger to defensive snaps either, usually in the early part of the season, seeing time at both free and strong safety. But special teams are his bread and butter, and with the departure of Tavon Wilson, Ebner’s return provides some stability.

In visit news…

Even Jets fans have seemed to know Kerley was then kind of player that has Patriots written on him. Without a role in Chan Gailey’s offense, the Jets cut Kerley loose. He had 56 catches in 2012, but that production has fallen off each season, but he still seems like he’d be a good fit in the slot for the Pats.

That sets up an interesting situation with Danny Amendola. We’ve been waiting for the Pats to re-structure/extend Amendola’s contract for the second season in a row — he’s due to make $5 million with a $6.8 million cap hit. If the Pats were to bring Kerley into the fold, especially for something in the $2 million range, it would put even more pressure on Amendola.

Don’t get me wrong, Amendola is a valued receiver on this team. He came through with a number of big plays/catches over the last two seasons, but still, he’s 30, had more injury issues last year and is due to make more money than any other receiver. We also saw last year that it’s not quite so simple to say he can fill in for Edelman. Amendola can’t take that beating and is best served as the third wide receiver who plays out of the slot.

Perhaps having Kerley would help protect both Amendola and Edelman. But there’s no denying Kerley could fill Amendola’s role both in the slot and returning punts. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Couple nuggets from the Sunday columns:

Mike Reiss has Tre Jackson getting a knee scope after missing the two playoff games.

Chris Price has some insight on the Pats’ rumored interest in Chris Long. Always loved Long as a twitter follow, and for a low cost deal I’d be all for bringing him in but I still don’t see the need at defensive end. Extend Sheard, work something out with Ninkovich next season and groom Trey Flowers and Geneo Grissom. Chandler Jones is going to make a huge sum of money next season, the Pats should just milk this contract year out of him and let him go.

Patriots Free Agency: Land DT Kearse, Sign WR Hogan to Offer Sheet

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Patriots Free Agency Chris Hogan

Things are slowly starting to ramp up for the New England Patriots in free agency. After a quiet first day, and a second day filled with visits, the team has reportedly signed Bills wide receiver Chris Hogan to an offer sheet and also signed defensive tackle Frank Kearse.

Hogan fills a definite need at the receiver spot and can be pencilled into Brandon LaFell‘s spot, for now. He checks all the boxes the Pats look for, but doesn’t come with the kind of previous production that would get fans excited. Still, he’s big, athletic and can play any of the receiver spots in the Pats system. But most importantly (to Bill Belichick), Hogan is a former lacrosse standout and can also punt. Is there anything BB loves more than lacrosse and versatility? Nope.

Now we’ll see if Hogan can truly live up to his always-open 7-11 nickname with the best quarterback he’s ever played with. That is assuming the Bills don’t move salary cap mountains to retain their third receiver. With Rex you never know.

Frank Kearse was the 53rd man on the Redskins last year. Again, that gets no one excited but if you read this article about the kind of player he is you’ll quickly understand why the Patriots pursued him. In a lot of ways the signing of Kearse embodies what I ranted about earlier today with the Pats and free agency. Kearse isn’t being pencilled into a starters spot, but you know if injuries strike he’s going to be ready, working his tail off and will compete his ass off.