PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Diagnosis: Free Agency Fever

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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

With five guys on the defensive line hitting free agency, as well as let’s count, two quarterbacks, two running backs, two wide receivers, four pieces of offensive line a couple of linebackers, two cornerbacks, two safeties and a kicker (phew!) it’s no wonder we are starting to panic a little on how the Patriots are going to quell the bleeding this 2021 season. 

Sure it would seem that free agency is starting to heat up all over the NFL at the moment, with many teams struggling for cap space, there are some big cap casualties that are going to be hitting the market.

Of course not all gashes left in free agency need to be bandaged with a current NFL player, with just (at the time of writing this) 8 weeks from the draft, interest in the fresh young college talent is reaching fever pitch too.

Speculation is rife around the Patriots, and we all know a lot of that hinges on the fact that no one (well hopefully not NO ONE) knows who will be the starter at quarterback. If you go on simply signed at the moment the guy who throws the ball will either be Jarrett Stidham or Jake Dolegala……… and a lot of fans feel that’s a total flat line. Personally, my perspective is without giving him plenty of starting games, the true picture on Stid the Kid isn’t fully developed, but I know many disagree and that the very reasonable argument is if they thought he was good he would have played more…. that’s fair, still subject to argument that Cam Newton was an opportunity they just didn’t want to pass up. Ifs buts and candy and nuts I guess.

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Recent cuts around the NFL that could find their way to Foxboro

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In recent days numerous NFL teams have begun to release players to begin saving against the tight Salary Cap this season ahead of the start of Free Agency. Some big names have crossed the transaction wire and with the Patriots holding a bounty of salary cap space this off season a few could find themselves on the Patriots roster next season. Let’s take a look at some potential fits.

Source: Sun-Sentinel.com

Kyle Van Noy – LB

The former Patriot was informed earlier this week that he would be released and there was immediate speculation about a potential return to Foxboro. While I think this is a likely scenario given our need at the position it must come at a reasonable price. The Patriots passed on paying him an inflated price tag once and I believe they would pass again if the price was not right. A veteran deal coming in at around $8 million per year would benefit both sides. A part of Van Noy’s game that developed late during his stint in Foxboro was his ability to play in coverage. This is an aspect that the Patriots defense desperately needs to improve upon. Keep an eye out for a potential reunion.

Golden Tate & Adam Humphries – WR

Both Wide Receivers were released by their respective teams this week in a Salary Cap savings campaign. However, both spit in the face of the Patriots during prior free agencies at a time when they would have had the opportunity to play with TB12 at QB. I do not envision the Patriots uncertainty at the Quarterback position helping their cause with these two and they are each that much older from when we initially tried to have them come aboard. I think that both of these Wide Outs are unlikely signings unless Edelman is unable to play this season and we push for Humphries to fill his role.

Nick Martin – C

An under the radar potential signing here. Nick Martin brings experience to the table and would be a solid replacement if the Patriots are unable to sign David Andrew. However, I believe that Andrews is extremely high up on their offseason priority list and expect him to be the Patriot’s starter at center next season. Martin was released by the Texans in an effort to rebuild the franchise, but he has plenty of game left.

Source: Jetswire.usatoday.com
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What will the Patriots do at Pick #15?

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The Patriots have 3 options when it comes to draft day:

Option A – Move Up

The least likely scenario of the three. The only way I envision this happening is if they fall in love with one of the top QB prospects not named Trevor Lawrence and move up to get their guy. This would come in the form of Wilson, Fields, Lance, or Jones. None of these guys are a sure thing like TLaw and it would require giving up too much draft stock. For example, moving up to pick #9 would likely require a package of picks that includes our 2021 second rounder and a late round swap. All of this from the coach that values draft picks above all else seems like a stretch.

Option B – Stay put and pick at #15

An unlikely scenario, but one possibility of us staying at 15 is if Penn State Linebacker Micah Parsons falls into our lap. Just a few months back Parsons was a sure top 10 pick but with some rumors of off the field issues circulating this is something to watch for come draft day. A tackling machine that plays a similar game to that of Devin White from the Bucs. He would be a great successor to Hightower and a defensive building block for the future. Parsons is a playmaker that is all over the field and seems to shine in big moments. However, given the other laundry list of needs that this Patriots team has this position may be addressed in Free Agency.

It's Time To Leave Micah Parsons Alone | Onward State
Source: onwardstate.com



Option C – Trade Back

This is the most likely scenario in my view. Bill has a history of trading back, especially early in the draft, to gain more capital. I see a situation where we trade back into the 18 – 22 range as perhaps the Colts or Titans move up to grab a falling talent. In the event that we do trade back there are two targets that stick out.

Zaven Collins – LB – Tulsa

Player to be Aware of: Tulsa Linebacker Zaven Collins
Source: SI.com


The first thing that sticks out about Collins is his freakish athleticism. He was a human highlight reel at Tulsa while racking up defensive awards. A player that could line up at multiple spots on defense including on the edge and drop back into coverage against Tight Ends or Running Backs. His usage would be similar to that of former Patriot Jamie Collins.

Christian Barmore – DT – Alabama

Jaguars mock draft: Alabama DT Christian Barmore's fit – The Athletic
Source: theathletic.com

The Saban to Foxboro pipeline strikes again! Barmore is the best pressure creating DT in the entire draft. Standing at 6-5 311 pounds Barmore is a day one difference maker that should see a significant amount of snaps as I only expect the Patriots to resign one of either Adam Butler or Lawrence Guy. This is the more likely play given our need at the position and some reinforcements coming back in the form of Hightower at the Linebacker position.


Only 57 days until Draft Day.

BREAKING – Key Patriots Opt-Outs To Return For 2021 Season

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Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports

So, we some Patriots news finally! – There were rumblings that some of the team’s opt-outs could return when it was teased it a few weeks ago, but now per a report from Rapsheet, the Pats are expecting some influential players to play in 2021.

Out of the names reported, Dont’a Hightower, Pat Chung, and Marcus Cannon are set to return and are expected to be in good shape physically.

Hightower is the main one for me here, given the lack of depth at the linebacker position for the entirety of this past season. I’m excited about High’s return, he’s been greatly missed.

Chung will return to add to an already solid safeties group with Devin McCourty, Kyle Dugger, and Adrian Phillips being the notable names Chung will link up at camp.

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Write for PatsPropaganda this season!

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As we dawn on the 2021 NFL pre-season, PatsPropaganda is looking for new writers to join the team for what is an exciting transitional period in Patriots history.

If you’re interested please email patspropaganda@gmail.com and tell us about yourself — why you love the Patriots, what you’re writing history and plans are. This is a low-commitment opportunity to write what you want, and also produce sponsored content as it arises throughout the season.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to become the voice of an already-established site, with a proven SEO track record.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sunday Supplement 02/21

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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

As the first weeks without football go by, attention turns to the new NFL league year in March and most importantly, free agency and the Draft.

I’ll be taking a dive into both in the coming weeks, but first, let’s round up the latest news from the first few weeks of the Patriots offseason.

Coaching Additions

Whilst the team is yet to dip their toes into the player market, they have begun adding to the staff ranks.

Following on from Matty P’s return a few weeks back, the team is expected to bring in Bo Hardegree as an offensive assistant. Hardegree has been a coach in the league since 2014, moving between Denver, Chigaco, and under Adam Gase, at Miami and New York.

Given Bill’s friendship and respect for Gase, it’s not hard to imagine that a good word was put in to secure Hardegree’s new role with the team.

Later this week, Mike Reiss reported that former Super Bowl-winning offensive lineman Billy Yates was expected to stick around and join the coaching team for the upcoming season.

As noted in Reiss’ tweet, Yates spent time with the Patriots in 2015 camp as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship, before cutting his teeth with Detroit as an assistant coach.

Hogan Switches Sports

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That Other Ex-Pats QB Was Pretty Good In Super Bowls

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Before Tom Brady came along, the history of New England Patriots quarterbacks and the Super Bowl was a story best forgotten. 

Tony Eason was at the helm with the Pats were embarrassed 46-10 by the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX. Drew Bledsoe, Brady’s predecessor, lost 35-21 to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. 

“Tony Eason” by C&C is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0  

Brady’s record six Super Bowl wins and nine appearances will forever make him a legend in Foxborough. However, even if Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defy the Super Bowl betting odds and defeat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, he’ll still have some work to do in order to be the most successful ex-Pats QB in Super Bowl history. 

That’s because Jim Plunkett quarterbacked two Super Bowl-winning teams after leaving New England.  

Different Beginnings 

Plunkett and Brady were both California high school quarterbacks who went to prominent colleges. Plunkett stayed in the state and went to Stanford, while Brady headed for the midwest and Michigan. And that’s where their paths diverged. 

After a so-so freshman campaign, Plunkett became a star for the Cardinal, rewriting the PAC-8 passing record book, culminating in his 1970 Heisman Trophy win. 

“The best college football player I’ve ever seen,” Washington State coach Jim Sweeney said of Plunkett. 

“He’s the best pro quarterback prospect I’ve ever seen,” added UCLA coach Tommy Prothro. 

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