Breaking Down Patriots Top 10 Free Agents
The 2021 New England Patriots are no more. And while we didn’t reach ‘Final season of Game of Thrones bad’, it’s safe to say the end of this year was a disappointment. That’s not to say there weren’t a ton of great things to take from this season, but still, it sucks. But we can’t dwell on the past and if we’re looking at a silver lining here, the Patriots have a few week head start on their competition when it comes to free agents and the offseason.
And a few of the teams biggest decisions revolve around players that are set to hit free agency. While the Pats have a plethora of guys whose contracts are expired, I’ve picked the top 10 I deem most important. So let’s start at 10 and make our way to the most significant.
10. Jakob Johnson
We are starting off with a bang by naming a fullback a ‘crucial’ free agent. But trust me, it’s with good reason. The Patriots run game was a huge part of their success this year, and Johnson was a big part of that. When the Pats lined up in their “Bully Ball” formation, the German Tank was a big part of that. Whether it was Harris or Stevenson, Johnson did a more than admirable job in clearing a hole for this running back. Could the Pats find another FB this offseason? Sure. But when you have one who knows the offense and does well at his job, why not bring him back?
9. James White
As the highest ranking member of the James White Fan Club (JWFC) it pains me to put him this far down the list. If I had it my way, White would get a lifetime contract this offseason, but unfortunately, I don’t make the decisions down at 1 Patriot Place. Let me make my case: when healthy, White is a Top 3 receiving back in this league, that’s a fact. He’s also elite at blitz pick up which is something this team puts a lot of weight in. White will be 30 once the 2022 season gets under way, but his ripe age shouldn’t deter Belichick from signing him for a few more years. A team captain who doubles as an outlet for a young QB can’t be bought, signed or drafted. You have to assume White is back with the team next year.
8. Ja’Whaun Bentley
Bentley had a rough start to his Patriots tenure due to injury, but he’s fought back to become a solid piece of this defense. But while he’s clearly vert talented, Bentley’s missing one thing that the Patriots need moving forward: speed. In the Patriots worse losses this year (Bills x2, Colts) one thing was exposed, this defense needs to get faster. I’d assume Belichick is going to put defense as his #1 priority in 2022, and adding linebackers who can cover sideline to sideline will be crucial. I’m hoping Belichick can manage keeping Bentley while also adding some speed to the linebacker room though. Especially with the likelihood of Winovich getting shipped out of town and Uche coming off a disappointing season.
7. Matthew Slater
The Patriots free agents contain a lot of older, vital guys. I don’t think any team in the league can say that one of their most important players is a Special Teams Gunner. But when it comes to the Patriots, Matthew Slater is as important as they come. Not only is Slater one of, if not the best, at this position, he can easily be called the heart and soul of New England. How many locker room huddles does he hold? How much guidance does he give every single player on this team? These are things that can’t be quantified, but are priceless. Assuming Slater wants to continue playing, and that’s a big if, you have to think he and the Pats will come to an agreement.
6. Devin McCourty
D-Mac is another “heart and soul” guy whose also just as important on the field as he is off of it. Having a quarterback of the defense who can get everyone into position is critical nowadays and McCourty does that with the best of them. Even though he is CRIMINALLY underrated outside of New England, his coaches and teammates know how good he is. This is the second of 3 ‘if they want to keep playing, they should be back’ guys. McCourty being on this team makes them a better defense than if he wasn’t on this team. And that’s a good enough reason for him to be back.
5. Dont’a Hightower
To paraphrase a popular phrase, reports of his demise were greatly exaggerated. I’m not sure why the false narrative this season was that High lose a step, because if you watched any game this year, you’d know that’s false. Hightower was still laying hits and shedding blocks just as we’re used to him doing. Perhaps it was the fact that he opted out last year which forced people to be sour on him? Who knows! But there’s one thing I do know: Hightower still has a good amount left in the tank and, stop me if you’ve heard this before, if he wants to keep playing, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be back on this team. It’s always good to have a veteran linebacker who can teach the young ones before he rides off into the sunset anyway.
4. Nick Folk
The Patriots having a kicker be one of their top free agents isn’t the norm, but oh well. Nick Folk was arguably the MVP of the Patriots 2021 season. If you sit down and watch any game on any given Sunday, you’ll see missed kicks and missed extra points all over the place. That wasn’t the case with Folk. He was a consistent force throughout the entire season and that’s not easy to find at his position nowadays. Folk clearly wants to keep playing and the Patriots don’t have a successor to him yet, so it seems obvious that he’ll be back.
3. Jakobi Meyers
It’s no secret that Meyers has formed a pretty solid relationship with Mac Jones. It seemed like every time Mac needed a first down or a big catch, he was looking Meyers way. Jakobi has already voiced his desire to come back and continue to work in this offense, so you’d have to think he’ll be back. And with his restricted free agent status meaning the Pats can match any offer he gets, it seems like a certainty that he’ll be a Patriot for years to come.
2. Trent Brown
Remember how out of wack this team looked when Brown went down to start the year? And remember how it looked once he came back? I could end this paragraph here if I wanted to because that alone is reason enough for him to be back. Brown is a very good RT and a crucial cog in this running game. I’d be shocked if he’s not back to further solidify this offensive line.
1. J.C. Jackson
Were you expecting someone else atop this list? The Patriots have a lot of free agents, but none bigger than this guy. Jackson is the best player on this defense (sorry, Judon) and a top guy at his position. Unlike the Stephon Gilmore situation, Belichick doesn’t have another top corner to fall back on if Jackson leaves. Sure, Jalen Mills and Jonathan Jones are solid players, but they aren’t in the same league as JC. Even if the two sides can’t come to an agreement, I’d expect Jackson to be franchise tagged ($17.2 million). That would put Jackson right in between Darius Slay and Tre’Davious White when it comes to salary and he’d be worth every penny. Jackson will likely get a long term contract next year at some point, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets tagged so the team has more time to negotiate a deal.
Conclusion:
Let’s be clear on something here with the Patriots free agents, every single one of these players should be a priority to resign this offseason. I’m splitting hairs in some ways by listing them 1-10, but like I said, they’re all important. I think defense is going to be Belichick’s priority heading into the draft, so bringing back some vets to make that transition seamless would be smart. And when it comes to offense, other than the guys on this list, I think they’re pretty good! Receivers and tight ends are set, OL is good, running back are more than good, so I don’t think any big additions need to happen. And while there are a few other notable guys who didn’t make this list, I think these 10 players are a good place to start.
(Featured Photo Credit www.nbcsports.com)
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Mike Sullivan (@msully5433 on Twitter)