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Free Agency

Patriots Bargain Bin Visits Continue

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More visits to Foxboro are being reported with RB James Starks, TE Clay Harbor and WR Rod Streater the latest bargain bin free agents to take a tour of facilities. I know none of these names get people excited, but again, it’s just what the Pats do, and all of them fit needs.

Biggest thing to take away from free agency so far, at least based on rumored interest and visits, is that we were pretty dead on with what the Patriots viewed as their needs that must be filled during the silly season. For all the attention that the offensive line got in the wake of the season-ender, it was indeed the skill positions that needed reinforcements.

Harbor seems like a decent option to fill the second TE role that was vacated by Scott Chandler. Here’s what Bill Belichick had to say on Harbor this past season:

Streater is one of the more interesting players and was pointed out by Mike Reiss as an under-the-radar type:

The five-year veteran had 60 catches for 888 yards and four touchdowns in 2013 for the Raiders, but has fallen off the radar since — first because of injury in 2014 and then as a result of a scheme/coaching change and stacked depth chart that remained healthy in 2015. He’s the type of undervalued asset on the market that could be appealing to the Patriots at a position of need.

Streater was the Raiders number one receiver during that 2013 season and if he had put up those numbers last year it would certainly be getting people’s attention. Interestingly, no one could really tell why he fell out of favor last season with the new regime.

Finally comes Starks, who is coming off a career-best 601 yards rushing and 392 yards receiving. Starks has good size (6’1″, 203) and would seem to fit the bill for a do-it-all back in the Pats’ system.

There’s just no telling how these guys would blossom in New England. Two of them would be coming from teams that have had far-worse quarterbacks than Tom Brady. Can they pick up the system? How will they respond to a system that is cemented in place and expects them to be in the exact right spot after making post-snap reads? This mostly applies to Streater, but it’s also easy to insert Harbor and Starks into the holes the Pats have and expect they’d be okay.

That’s ultimately what free agency is about. Players like these set the stage before the draft, enabling the Pats to not have to reach to fill a need. And if the perfect tight end, running back or receiver falls to them it could make any one of these low risk free agents expendable.

Patriots Free Agency: Day #2 Updates

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The Patriots are once again following their model of allowing the market to settle before pouncing on all the value deals that will be available after the first 24-48 hours of free agency. Of course, this drives Patriots fans nuts and this year the main target of their ire is how quickly the wide receiver market has been cleaned out.

There’s little question the Pats need to add a starting-quality receiver in free agency. And despite being linked to almost every top wide out on the market, the Pats have yet to land anyone and the pickings are getting slimmer and slimmer. Mohamed Sanu is visiting Atlanta today but no one expects him to actually leave there for New England as he said he planned to do.

Rishard Matthews, the next in line target after Sanu, signed in Tennessee last night. So there’s not much left for the Pats, other than 35-year old Anquan Bolden, who could certainly fill a role in New England but is no longer an every down impact player who could extend the field horizontally and vertically.

Today’s latest update is that Chris Hogan, a receiver with a low RFA tender from Buffalo, will be visiting the team. Hogan has had a couple good performances against the Pats (2014 – 5/72, 1 TD, 2015 – 6/95) and is a former lacrosse player and even has punting experience. Yes, a lot of this seems right up Bill Belichick and the Patriots alley. Add in his 6’1″, 220 pound size and it seems like Hogan could be an undercover gem. You also might remember his nickname “7-11” because he was always open as a rookie free agent in Dolphins camp during Hard Knocks.

So yes, Hogan makes sense, but he’s certainly not the flashy name many are hoping for, but you know, that’s just how the Pats build their team, especially at the receiver position.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3-_rGZmymM

Running back is the other position of need and what’s been most interesting to me is that the Pats have been connected to Bilal Powell (who is re-signing with the Jets) and Benny Cunningham (scheduled to visit NE). My main focus of need was an early down pounder. CJ Anderson (also due for a visit) is a perfect model, as would fallback option Khiry Robinson (signed with Jets), but Powell and Cunningham are more receiving backs and the Pats have James White and Dion Lewis seemingly entrenched in that role.

So this makes me wonder how good the Pats feel about White. He certainly flashed some big plays once Lewis went down, but he also had just six catches on 14 targets in the AFC Championship. He also seems to bring little-to-no value actually running the ball, unlike Lewis who the Pats clearly love for obvious reasons.

At the very least it seems like the Pats want another option to pair with White until Lewis is fully recovered from ACL surgery. The Pats schedule is a tough one this year and will likely have some tough tests right out of the gate. There’s also the chance Tom Brady is suspended. It’d appear they’re taking no chances by having dynamic threats for September.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3a9lxi_alI

Patriots Free Agency Day #1 Recap

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Hard to write a recap when news is constantly breaking during free agency, but here’s what went down with the Pats in the first day, at least so far.

Yes, they did make a signing, special teamer/back up linebacker Ramon Humber who was with the Saints last year. Another classic Patriots opening salvo of free agency, going with a guy that not even a crazed Pats blogger like me was aware of. I’d relate this signing more to the retirement of Dane Fletcher and departure of Tavon Wilson (who signed with the Lions), than the starter’s hole at middle linebacker. This is the kind of player the Pats love, and the kind that gives them one of the best special teams units year in and year out. Many dismiss that, but we saw the impact bad special teams play can have firsthand last year.

There were reports Mohamed Sanu was signing for $7 million per year (a number the Pats are never going to touch) with the Falcons, although later in the day he told Josina Anderson of ESPN that he was scheduled to go to New England after Atlanta. We’ll see if he actually does. If not, the wide receiver market continues to thin out. Rishard Matthews and Jermaine Kearse seem like the only good X-WR fits left and neither one of them gets me too excited. There’s been reports the Pats are interested in Anquan Bolden and James Jones, but I don’t really see the benefit of either. Or let me put it like this, when was the last time a receiver over 30 not named Randy Moss came to New England and clicked with Brady and the offense? The answer — NO ONE.

Jeremy Kerley was released by the Jets and he’s a player that seems like the perfect fit for what the Pats like to do. No, he’s not filling the X-WR need, but he can easily backup Edelman and Amendola, if not make Amendola and his salary expendable. That will be something to watch in the coming days if they can figure the money out.

With Matt Forte ending up with the Jets, the Pats will have to look elsewhere and really, CJ Anderson and his low-round tender by the Broncos is the most attractive option to me. Anderson is young and exactly the kind of early down wrecking ball the Pats need. Another RB name that has popped up via Mike Loyko is Khiry Robinson, from New Orleans who is coming off a nasty leg fracture last season. Again, Robinson has that size and hard running ability the Pats need. So either of those guys are great fits and I’d assume Robinson to be the favorite with Denver doing everything they can to keep Anderson.

Wednesday Afternoon Patriots Free Agency Catch Up

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The last 24 hours has illustrated just how dumb the “legal tampering period” is, as numerous teams are already reporting deals in place with many of the top free agents on the market.  So who cares what happens at 4pm today? It’s not like the old days when there would be a deluge of information the moment the league year started.

Anyway, the Patriots haven’t had an active day so far, but there have been plenty of reports about who they’re interested in and the headline is at the wide receiver position.

The need at wide receiver is an obvious one, with Brandon LaFell‘s departure it’s the only true starter spot open on the entire team. But now the Pats are down to Rishard Matthews and Mohamed Sanu as potential targets, though I’m not sure either are true X-receivers for the Patriots’ system that would fit the role that LaFell played (well in 2014).

I’ve always liked Sanu. He’s got good size, is smart and versatile, but my main interest in him was in upgrading the slot spot. But again, he’d fit nicely with this receiver corps and make up for some of the size they lost with LaFell. As for Matthews I’m less interested. He’s less than physical and doesn’t really bring anything interesting to the party.

Jermaine Kearse might just be the best value option left if they miss out on Sanu.

The Pats have also reportedly expressed an interest in Jets running back Bilal Powell. This is a move I didn’t really see coming because I always saw Powell as more of a third-down back, which the Pats already have two pretty good ones of in Dion Lewis (recovering from ACL surgery) and James White. Powell seems a bit redundant to me, but when you look at what the Pats had left at the end of 2015 there’s no question they sure could’ve used him then.

Hope remains that the Pats will also get in on Matt Forte. So far, other than some reported interest from the Packers, things have been pretty quiet on that front. I still think that Joique Bell is my under-the-radar guy.

We all know the Pats play things close to the vest, and that for them free agency isn’t about the early splashy moves but the good value deals that will play out over the next couple weeks. There’s still plenty of action to come.

Patriots Keep Branch, Stage Set for Free Agency

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The 2016 NFL league year starts in just hours now and with it will come a flurry of free agency moves mostly made by the bottom third of the league trying to climb back into relevance. As for the Patriots, things have been pretty quiet thus far in the “legal tampering period.” If the last 15 years tell us anything about Bill Belichick and free agency it’s that this time is used to fill holes with at least temporary fixes, most often with castoffs or under-the-radar types who will either blossom in New England or get beaten out by someone else and end up on the side of the road.

There were only two bits of Pats news on Tuesday, that the team had picked up Alan Branch‘s option while also trying to actively retain Akiem Hicks. Reports were that Hicks had as many as 10 other suitors, giving the impression that he’d likely get a more lucrative offer elsewhere.

It seemed like Hicks and Branch were very much connected as they’d be competing for a similar if not the same exact role — starting next to Malcom Brown on the interior. Hicks is younger and has a higher ceiling, but Branch had an excellent year in New England in 2015 and should be expected to do the same in 2016 now that he’s on board. It would still be great to land Hicks as well, but this is a deep year in the draft for defensive tackles so the Pats should ultimately be okay.

And honestly, I thought Hicks was good last year, but the majority opinion now seems to be that he was great. Integral even? I don’t know. He had 1 solo tackle in the playoffs. No sacks. I mean, I get it, he’s 26 has great size and is good against the pass and run. But he’s still not as good as Malcom Brown was as a rookie so all this buzz is just for DT #2 and with Easley back (and hopefully putting together his first healthy season) the pass rushing DT role isn’t empty either. So yeah, they’ll be fine if he walks. And if they keep him, it could make Branch expendable if he comes to camp out of shape, which is always possible.

So that’s all we get on the eve of Free Agency, and really, it shouldn’t be all that surprising. This is what the Patriots do. Play it cool and under the radar, until all of sudden… SPLASH.

I think the Pats should add a running back, wide receiver and middle linebacker as priorities in free agency. Matt Forte seems to be more and more a pipe dream the more I think about him, and I just don’t see an ideal X-WR to replace Brandon LaFell. At MLB I think they could look at a veteran and preserve him in a two-down run-stopping role.

Put it this way, they must get better at those positions, and expecting a rookie who won’t come until 60th overall to step in and start at those spots is foolish. At the very least they’ll put a vet in those positions and make the rookie win the role.

Things will get interesting quickly tomorrow, and nowhere will that be more true that here on the blog where I’m relaunching the Prop Shop with a collection of t-shirts I hope you all like. Let the 2016 journey begin!

Pats Posits: Let the Free Agency Games Begin!!

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The new league year starts Wednesday, but things are already underway with the “legal tampering period” which should make for a bunch of deals getting into place ahead of time. For the Patriots, the new is starting to finally trickle in with restricted free agent signings.

— James Develin announced that he’s returning to the Pats on a new one-year deal. This likely saved the Pats some money by not having to tender Develin. Now, coming off a broken leg, Develin has a chance to prove he’s back to form and can help re-establish a Patriots ground game that was murdered by attrition in 2014.

— Justin Coleman, coming off an impressive rookie season in the slot, Josh Boyce and tackle Cameron Fleming have been tendered as well. Wasn’t sure if Boyce would be back, but Coleman and Fleming were locks and help round out the depth. Brandon King is also in discussions to return, likely under a tender offer. Rufus Johnson, LaAdrian Waddle and Kevin Hughes are the only RFA/ERFA’s left that we haven’t gotten word about.

— Logan Mankins announced his retirement which once again shows the Pats are usually right on with their “one year early rather than a year late” personnel philosophy. Mankins is one of those all-time Patriots players who somehow managed to have his career span the exact time frame Belichick and Brady went Super Bowl-less, 2005-2013. It’s too bad Mankins never got a ring in New England, but he’s still one of the best maulers of all time. Playing on a torn ACL in 2011’s Super Bowl might just embody everything Mankins stood for in New England.

— The Pats also picked up Rob Gronkowski‘s $10 million option ensuring Gronk stays with the team through 2019, though another extension seems certainly likable at some point in the next couple years, depending on how healthy Gronk stays. He’s missed just two games the last two seasons, if he keeps up that pace he’ll own pretty much every tight end record in the books.

— Eric Weddle thinks he’d be a good fit with the Pats and as much as I love the player it’s hard to see how he’d fit in New England with Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung and Duron Harmon, with Jordan Richards also in the mix. Yes of course Weddle and McCourty would be probably the best safety combo in the league, but they’re not paying Chung to sit on the bench at this point, so I really don’t see it happening.

Patriots Roster Trimming Continues

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More news continues to trickle in as the Patriots are in roster trimming mode — the latest is that restricted free agents Brian Tyms and Sealver Siliga will not be tendered and will hit free agency next week. Free Agent Brandon Gibson, who spent last year on IR with New England, also indicated he wouldn’t be returning to New England.

Tyms suffered a knee injury in training camp, killing all hopes that he was the next great deep threat hope. Siliga had a fall from grace in 2015 after a promising 2013 and 2014. He was a good piece of the puzzle to have — a stout two-gapper — but would never be more than a two-down player.

Siliga was the only one I thought would and should be back, but ultimately the Pats didn’t want to pay him $1.671 million to be fourth on the depth chart. Perhaps this is a good sign that the Pats think they can retain Akiem Hicks, but it’s more likely the two are unrelated and they weren’t paying Siliga that much regardless.

Remaining internal free agents and RFA/ERFA.

Remaining internal free agents and RFA/ERFA. Starred ones are who I want back.

Another factor is that this is a defensive tackle-rich draft with plenty of big two-gappers who could fill that fourth DT role for far less money. Malcom Brown will be back, as will Dominique Easley. Adding Hicks back into the equation would be a big boost, while Alan Branch remains in limbo with an option due next week.

Clearly the Pats first order of business this offseason was to make cuts and open cap space, setting the stage for what will hopefully be a more-active-than-expected free agency period.