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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!

Laying Out the New England Patriots Free Agency Plan

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We’re still a couple weeks away from the start of the new NFL year on March 9th and with it the start of free agency. With that the Pats’ plans for 2016 will start to come into clearer view, but I continue to believe that the major moves will be done on internal free agents and not splashy external ones. Here’s what I see as the Patriots Free Agency plan for the next month.

If there was a position to spend a little bit extra money I’d put it at the running back spot and that’s the only reason I won’t cross Matt Forte off my list of targets.

Here are the priorities:Extend Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins: Can they both get done together? Both are entering the last years of their deals and should both get significant money. Hightower is the lock because an extension for him would lower his $7.75 million cap hit. Collins is still a bargain and that could be the only thing preventing him from getting extended sooner than later.

patriots tarrell brown

Internal Unrestricted Free Agent Priorities:

  1. Akiem Hicks: Pats have expressed interest in bringing him back. What happens with him could directly affect whether or not the Pats pick up Alan Branch‘s option. Branch had a very good season in 2015, but I’d advocate Hicks over him.
  2. Tarrell Brown: Really think the Pats only need one veteran corner and Brown looked poised to start last season but had a lingering foot issue. If that’s cleared up he’s had a year in the system and would be good to keep around.
  3. Nate Ebner: Special teams demons are valued on the Patriots far more than other teams. Ebner should be an easy signing and they don’t want to let both him and Tavon Wilson go. Wilson walks. Ebner stays.
  4. Dane Fletcher: He spent his year back with the Pats rehabbing a torn ACL and never made if off IR. He’d be a cheap signing at a position of need. Not sure he’s ready for significant snaps anymore, but did a good job filling in at Mike in his first stint. Special teams value too.

Let walk: LeGarrette Blount, Tavon Wilson, Steven Jackson, Dekoda Watson, Brandon Gibson.

Restricted/Exclusive Rights Free Agent Priorities:james develin touchdown

  1. James Develin: Pats missed their fullback last year. Might be better to extend him than tender him, as it would be more cost effective.
  2. Cameron Fleming: Hoped for more out of him in 2015, but provides depth at an area of uncertainty.
  3. Justin Coleman: Really solid rookie season in the slot and was very good in the playoffs.
  4. Sealver Siliga: Bit of a down year in 2015, but still has good size and had his moments. Fits the rotation well at DT.
  5. Brandon King: Second in the NFL in solo special teams tackles.
  6. Rufus Johnson: Preseason standout at defensive end, could be a developmental piece with Chandler/Ninkovich nearing uncertainty.

Other RFA/ERFA: Brian Tyms, LaAdrian Waddle, Josh Boyce, Kevin Hughes (all very likely return)

External Free Agents to consider:

  1. Matt Forte – finding a deal that works is key here, but Forte could take an early-down role, sprinkled in with some passing down work. Pats offer a winning organization and a chance to take some wear and tear off via a rotation.
  2. Alfred Morris – Morris is a good mid-range option for the early-down role.
  3. Joique Bell – Bell is the cheap option, but he’s always seemed like a Pats back to me and almost signed with the team coming out. He might be the best match of value and style, but Pats would still need to address RB in the draft.
  4. Mohamed Sanu – Yes, he’s a Rutgers guy but could give the Pats more size in the slot than Danny Amendola. He also has run the Wildcat and can do a number of things.
  5. Kendall Reyes – Good fit coming out of UConn who never found his stride in San Diego. Reclamation project if Hicks doesn’t stick around.
  6. Randy Starks – Pats have had a plenty of Starks over the years, good versatile fit upfront who’d fit into the Alan Branch role.
  7. Rolando McClain – Kicked the tires on him last year, but he went with Dallas. Still seems like a good MLB fit, but the ship might’ve sailed.
  8. Stephen Tulloch – BB’s had good success with vet LBs at the end of the line. Tulloch has enough in the tank left to be a sub player at MLB, primarily to make run game tackles. If money could be figured out he might relish a shot at a ring after a career with the Titans and Lions.

ProJo/Daniels: Patriots show interest in re-signing Akiem Hicks

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Akiem Hicks is expected to generate plenty of attention when free agency starts next month. You can count the Patriots in as one of his suitors.

Source: Patriots show interest in re-signing Akiem Hicks

I’m all for giving it a shot with Hicks who really started to step up once Dominique Easley went down. General consensus seems to be that Hicks would get more money elsewhere but he’s young and talented and as anyone who knows me knows, I can never get enough front seven talent.

Re-signing Hicks might come at the expense of Alan Branch‘s contract option, but he’s younger and still ascending so I think that’s an okay trade. Plus, in my early draft research, I think there’s some really good fits at DT for the Pats.

Malcom Brown was great as a rookie and will be the unquestionable top tackle in 2016. Add in healthy Dominique Easley (fingers crossed as always), with Sealver Siliga (RFA who had a somewhat down year in 2015), vet Chris Jones who’s solid rotationally and I think it’s a pretty solid group. Either way I think you just have to have Branch or Hicks back, plus a mid-round-ish pick.

 

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Here are some highlights of new Patriots Akiem Hicks and I think it’s a pretty good depth move for their interior DT spots. He gives the Patriots another big option inside, somewhat in the mold of Alan Branch. Hard to get too excited about any new player, they’ll throw him in the mix and see how he does. But the sheer number of trades this season has been unprecedented. The Patriots never sit still, they’re always tweaking the roster as much as they can to give them a strong 53 guys. (via Akiem Hicks – YouTube)

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/here-are-some-highlights-of-new-patriots-akiem/