The Patriots have gone backwards.
After making the postseason in 2021, the Pats completed a season of surprising turmoil and predictable teaching woes at 8-9. The excellent news is teaching adjustments are reportedly on the best way, and the Pats are projected to carry the fifth-most cap house within the league heading into free company. The Patriots are additionally armed with vital draft capital, which they might use to reinfuse the roster with younger expertise or wield within the commerce market.
However the Pats proceed, the stakes are vital. The franchise hasn’t gained a playoff recreation in 4 years, and for the primary time in his 23-year tenure, Bill Belichick’s job safety has been questioned.
To put the Patriots again on observe, the Herald is publishing a day by day sequence with 5 offseason fixes that cowl the draft, free company and training adjustments.
No. 1: Commit to an offensive system
No. 2: Draft and signal an offensive deal with
No. 3: Trade for a No. 1 broad receiver
Last week, the Patriots broke from precedent by releasing a press release that introduced ongoing contract negotiations and a training search.
To elevate their offense among the many league’s elite, the Pats might have to interrupt precedent once more by buying a No. 1 receiver, and paying him market worth.
Their depth charts at quarterback, working again and tight finish are largely set and unspectacular resulting from contract constructions and up to date draft historical past. The Patriots’ offensive line wants a makeover at each deal with positions, whereas the inside stays sturdy, From a personnel standpoint, broad receiver is the one place that may very well be topic to main change for the franchise’s worst offense since 1995 by Football Outsiders’ DVOA, and internally there’s some belief they should upgrade.
The drawback? Zero No. 1 receivers are scheduled to hit free company.
Jakobi Meyers and Kansas City’s JuJu Smith-Schuster will vie for the title of finest wideout out there come mid-March, each licensed No. 2 receivers. Meyers ought to fetch a contract within the neighborhood of $12 to $14 million per 12 months, in keeping with Spotrac. But ought to the Patriots move on re-signing Meyers in favor of, say, DeAndre Hopkins?
The Cardinals reportedly intend to commerce their No. 1 receiver as they enter some type of a rebuild. Hopkins would carry a base wage of $19.45 million subsequent season. The three-time All-Pro could have a number of suitors and switch 31 in June.
Hopkins, within the phrases of Belichick, is “never covered.” This is an important talent, contemplating few groups have seen extra man protection than the Patriots over the previous three seasons. Opponents don’t worry any of their pass-catchers 1-on-1. Hopkins would instantly and single-handedly change that, drawing double groups and/or opposing No. 1 corners, whereas DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton face extra favorable matchups.
Here’s extra from Belichick on Hopkins: “His ball skills are at the very elite level with guys that I’ve seen in this league. He’s up there with whoever the top guys are, the Cris Carters of the world and guys like that. He’s every bit as good as anybody I’ve ever coached against.”
Patriots offensive coordinator: Bill O’Brien is ‘primary target’ in teaching search, per report
But as an instance Hopkins is simply too costly to commerce for or declines to waive his no-trade clause as a result of the Patriots have employed his former head coach, Bill O’Brien, as their new offensive coordinator. What about Keenan Allen?
The Chargers are at the moment scheduled to be greater than $19.8 million over the cap for the 2023 league 12 months, per Over The Cap. They should pay celebrity quarterback Justin Herbert quickly. Like Hopkins, Allen is a five-time Pro Bowler who will flip 31 this 12 months and has two years left on his contract.
He did miss seven video games this season, so well being is a priority, however his efficiency at 30 was not. Allen’s per-game averages for receptions, yards and first downs in 2022 had been all greater than they have been in 4 years. He averaged the sixth-highest yards of separation within the NFL, per Next Gen Stats, higher than Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and Justin Jefferson.
Allen’s 2023 base wage is $15.5 million, and buying and selling him would create $14.8 million in cap house for the Chargers.
It could be truthful to counter that buying and selling for skill-position gamers previous their bodily primes is usually dangerous enterprise. However, the chance so as to add elite receivers are uncommon, and as long as Mac Jones is the Patriots’ quarterback, their window for contending needs to be the following two seasons when he stays on a cost-controlled rookie contract. That contending timeline aligns with the expiration of Allen’s contract and Hopkins’.
If the Patriots are inclined to attend, Mike Evans would possibly come free in Tampa Bay, the place the Bucs are presently $43.7 million over subsequent 12 months’s cap. If the Buccaneers commerce Evans after June 1, they will create $14.5 million in cap house. Evans can be getting into the ultimate 12 months on his contract and turns 30 in August, elements that would drive his value down along with Tampa’s tight cap sheet.
Evans is coming off a 77-catch season with 1,124 yards and 6 touchdowns.
The Bengals’ Tee Higgins can be getting into the final 12 months of his deal and will change into a cap casualty if their entrance workplace decides it could possibly’t afford to pay him, Joe Burrow and No. 1 weapon Ja’Marr Chase, who might be extension eligible after subsequent season. Other potential commerce candidates to observe, resulting from contractual circumstances: Denver’s Jerry Jeudy (potential fifth-year choice in 2024), Arizona’s Robbie Anderson, Cincinnati’s Tyler Boyd and the Jets’ Corey Davis.
Source: www.bostonherald.com