WHAT A DAY. – I had a feeling the Patriots, you know, might actually do something today, and boy did I underestimate. Let’s take a look at all of the moves from the first day of FA negotiations.
Signings
TE Jonnu Smith – 4-Years $50M ($31.25 Guaranteed)
WOW! – What a start, Bill and the staff went big for their first deal today, landing Jonnu Smith on a four-year contract. Since Gronk left back in 2018, the Patriots have struggled to even find an NFL-caliber player at the position. Now, they pay Smith to become the biggest patch-catching threat on the roster.
TE Depth-
Jonnu Smith
Ryan Izzo
Devin Asiasi
Dalton Keene
Matt LaCosse
WR Nelson Agholor – 2-Years $26M
Forgetting his lackluster up and down time in Philly, Agholor comes to New England on the back of a solid 8-TD season in Las Vegas. A nice addition to the receiving ranks, not a Golladay or Smith-Schuster signing, but a solid signing for sure.
2020 Numbers- 48 REC – 896 YDS – 8 TD’s
WR Kendrick Bourne – 3-Years $22.5M
Another WR addition in the shape of Kendrick Bourne, Jimmy G’s former pass-catcher. Someone who has been produced under the radar whilst playing on the West Coast. Will join as a number two/three option and being only 25, has good playing years ahead of him.
If Agholor is out of reach, Bourne (6-1, 190) could be a nice fallback option. Overshadowed by Cooper Kupp at Eastern Washington, he went undrafted in 2017 after running a 4.68-second time in the 40-yard dash, but not to be overlooked was his 6.73-second time in the 3-cone drill — which reflects short-area quickness that could translate well to what the Patriots value.
Mike Reiss -EPSN Patriots Reporter
Ironically, Reiss’ worries never came to fruition as the Patriots managed to secure both players.
2020 Number- 49 REC – 667 YDS – 2 TD’s
WR On Roster-
Julian Edelman
Nelson Agholor
Jakobi Meyers
Kendrick Bourne
N’Keal Harry
Gunner Olszewski
Isaiah Zuber
Kristian Wilkerson
Devin Smith
Marqise Lee
Remaining team FA’s-
Damiere Byrd
Donte Moncrief
DT Davon Godchaux – 2-Years up to $16M
Like this move, the Patriots needed help in stopping the run, and they bring in Davon Godchaux who comes in from a frustrating season in 2020 with lots of potential to progress under Belichick being just 26.
DT On Roster-
Davon Godchaux
Beau Allen
Nick Thurman
Bill Murray
Byron Cowart
Akeem Spence
Remaining team FA’s-
Lawrence Guy
Adam Butler
Carl Davis
OLB Matthew Judon – 4-Years $56M ($32M Guaranteed)
Well, we knew the team needed front seven help, and the Patriots paid another huge wedge to land Matt Judon from Baltimore, they secure him for four years, boy, the pass rush next year is going to be tasty.
LB On Roster-
Matt Judon
Dont’a Hightower
Chase Winovich
Josh Uche
Ja’Whaun Bentley
Terez Hall
Anfernee Jennings
Tashawn Bower
Cassh Maluia
Michael Pinckney
Brandon King
Remaining team FA’s-
John Simon
Shilique Calhoun
Brandon Copeland
CB Jalen Mills – 4-Year $24M (9M Guaranteed)
An interesting addition, Mills is a versatile DB who’s been playing all over the backfield whilst in Philadelphia and could confirm Stephon Gilmore’s exit from the team between now and the Draft.
Re-Signings
DE Deatrich Wise
One who I thought would move on this off-season was Wise, but, he will return to add to what is shaping up to be an interesting front seven next season!
DT Carl Davis
A familiar face from last season will return to camp this year…
[…] first name that broke through on tamper-Monday was Smith, but, little did we know he wouldn’t be the only TE through the door in FA. He […]