After a very disappointing season, one in which the New England Patriots finished dead last in the AFC East with a 4-13 record, there was hope that some of their many, many holes could be fixed via free agency.
Plus, they entered with approximately $100 million in cap space.
Major needs for the Patriots are quarterback, offensive tackle, and wide receiver. With the Pats picking third overall, along with an early second round pick (34), you’d think they would’ve plugged some holes in free agency ahead of time.
Wishful thinking, I guess.
Instead, New England didn’t make any ‘splash signings.’ Jacoby Brissett returned to be a mentor and QB1 (for the time being) to the eventual rookie quarterback, who will be drafted.
They tried to sign star Calvin Ridley, who was the best available wide receiver, but he decided to turn down Foxborough to go to Tennessee – maybe it was the weather?
Then, there’s the tackle position. There were three ‘ready to start’ tackles in free agency that New England could’ve signed: Tyron Smith, Jonah Williams, and Trent Brown.
I’ll be the first to say it: I didn’t want Brown back. Between his injury history and comments about not returning, I’m fine with him out of town.
Tyron Smith is a player who I felt could be the perfect stop-gap. Sign him to a one-year deal, even if he plays just 12 of 17 games. Instead, Smith lands with an AFC East rival to protect Aaron Rodgers in New York.
Lastly, Jonah Williams. The former Bengal signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He would have been the perfect tackle to protect the rookie’s blindside for his first few years in the league. Ugh.
The Pats did sign Chukwuma Okorafor, however, who has experience playing right tackle. In a pinch, he can play left tackle, although he hasn’t played many snaps there since entering the league.
Lacking a true No. 1 receiver is something New England hasn’t felt in a long time. However, the Patriots resigned Kendrick Bourne and Jalen Raeger, then signed KJ Obsborn. They’re all No. 3 options, by the way.
Bourne, at best, is a second option, but coming off of an ACL injury, time will tell how quickly he can get back to being 100 percent.
I’m aware the Patriots can still make a trade – either for a number one wideout or a left tackle, but if they don’t, New England enters the draft needing all three (quarterback, tackle, wide receiver).
On the flip side, the good guys did make some good retention signings. Arguably their biggest free agent, Mike Onwenu, resigned to nail down the right tackle/guard position for the foreseeable future.
Then, on the defensive side, they retained Anfernee Jennings and Josh Uche, while adding guys like Sione Takitaki, Armon Watts, and Jaylinn Hawkins – all of whom provide depth for what’s already an elite defensive core.
The Pats also transition tagged Kyle Dugger, if that helps.
One benefit of not reliving the 2021 free agency – when the Patriots spent more than anyone – is that cap space rolls over to next year. So, if the front office doesn’t believe in this free agency class, it should save some money and look to build through the future.
De facto General Manager Eliot Wolf was brought up through the Green Bay Packers front office, where their motto – largely in part to his father, Ron – helped the Packers shape their team’s philosophy.
Build through the draft, they said.
Patriots’ fans need to be aware of this: it’s not a quick fix, or one or two drafts away from being the Patriots of old.
But, by building through the draft, the goal is to eventually have a homegrown team that is consistently playing in the playoffs – just like Green Bay.
Free agency is just one way to improve a roster. Although I’m disappointed we didn’t make more signings, I understand the future is a long-term rebuild – not a one-year blink.
