Patriots Made Big Splash as Free Agency Begins

After 20 long years of pure dominance, the New England Patriots suffered a mediocre season in 2020, purely off lack of talent from the trenches to the skill positions. Because of this, New England finished the season 7-9 and missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. In 2021, the Patriots have made a statement so far, signing key guys in free agency to help get them back to the promise land after a disappointing season. Let us look at the key moves they have made so far and what is next for New England.

Defense

While the offense sparked the most scrutiny, the Patriots’ defense did not play up to par as well. Whether it was because of the lack of offensive productivity, the opt-outs of key players, or plain not enough talent on the defensive end, New England struggled on the defensive side of the ball. Just one day into free agency, New England addressed this issue in a big way. 

Led by Matt Judon, the Patriots emphasized their front seven, signing three players to fill this void. Besides Judon, the Pats also agreed to terms with DL Henry Anderson and Davon Godchaux, bolstering their defensive line. Judon agreed to the largest deal out of the three, agreeing to a four-year/ $56M contract the day free agency opened.

 New England also strengthened their back end as well, signing DB Jalen Mills to a four-year contract after a strong season at safety with the Philadelphia Eagles. Add to this the veterans coming back from opt-outs such as LB D’Onta Hightower and S Patrick Chung and the Patriots suddenly have a well above average defense.

The TE Room

Last season, the story of the offense was the lack of talent at the skill positions, specifically the receivers for QB Cam Newton to throw too. A part of that issue was the Tight End position, which produced under 250 receiving yards and just one touchdown in 2020. With obvious room to upgrade, the Patriots made an enormous splash, signing not one, but two big-name tight ends to expensive contracts. They go by the names of Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry. 

Starting with Smith, who scored eight times in 2020 with the Titans, he and the Patriots agreed to a four-year/$50M contract when free agency opened. This deal included a $15M signing bonus with an average salary of $12.5M per year. Smith might become QB Cam Newton’s favorite red-zone target, exhibiting a large frame and impressive hands, which is ideal for a tight end in the red zone.

Just a day after signing Smith, New England did not let up, signing former Chargers TE Hunter Henry to a three-year/$37.5M contract. Like Smith, Henry has an enormous frame with impressive hands while showing off good speed on vertical routes. When Henry is healthy, he has proven to be one of the games best and might be the move of the offseason for the Patriots. New England is going to be running a ton of two-tight end sets, which is something that Newton has had a lot of success with in the past.

The WR Room

While the Patriots made a big splash at the tight end position, that did not stop them from upgrading at the receiver position as well, starting with former Raiders wideout Nelson Agholor. After having a rough time with the Eagles, Agholor broke out in 2020, setting career highs in receiving yards, touchdowns, and yards per reception (Y/R), posing as a legitimate deep threat for Las Vegas in 2020. Agholor and the Patriots agreed to a two-year deal for $22M, giving him an $11M base salary. This move gives the Patriots a guy who can stretch the field and let Newton work in between the numbers, where he is at his best. An overall solid signing for the Pats.

While not the most glamorous move, signing WR Kendrick Bourne is a low-risk, high reward scenario for New England, after giving him a three-year, incentive-heavy deal with an opt-out after year one. Bourne has not gotten a true chance to play consistent snaps in the NFL yet but has shown signs of becoming a solid NFL receiver. In 2020, Bourne had 49 catches for 667 yards and two touchdowns while only starting five games (appearing in 15). If New England can catch lightning in a bottle, this can be a difference-making move for the Patriots’ offense.

What’s Next

Even with all these moves, there is still the possibility that New England continues to be active. Expect New England to continue to be in the market for defensive players, specifically linebackers and safeties to add depth. Also, they may be in the market for a running back who can catch passes with HB James White most likely going elsewhere. There have been rumors about HB Chris Carson being a target, but that might not be the greatest fit. A free agent like HB Philip Lindsay would fit in nicely, along with Duke Johnson or Jerick McKinnon. With the draft coming up as well, it should be interesting to see what direction the Pats move in and what positions they target before this upcoming season.

stats and info from profootballreference.com

contract details from spotrac.com

Writer

-By: Richie Dordas