2016 Free Agency: 5 Under-the-radar players Patriots should consider
With Super Bowl 50 in the books, it’s officially the NFL offseason. Next up on the NFL calendar is the free agency frenzy, one of the more exciting times of the year. This morning, we’re taking stock of the free agent market by examining five lower-tier players the New England Patriots should have in mind.
5 positions Patriots must address in 2016 free agency
5. Ricardo Lockette
Ah yes, the man that still haunts Logan Ryan’s dreams. You may remember that Lockette was nearly the difference in Super Bowl XLIX, snagging three passes for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Since being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks in 2011, Lockette has appeared in 34 games. He’s caught just 22 passes for 451 yards and four touchdowns over that span. The Fort Valley State University product isn’t going to be commanding top dollar on the free agent market by any means.
That being said, it would be such a Patriots move to take a flyer on the veteran. For one, he’s a big target at 6-foot-3. In addition, he has made plays against the Patriots in the past, which was the team’s reasoning for signing wideouts like Wes Welker and Chad Ochocinco in recent years.
If nothing else, the Patriots should at least mull over the possibility of signing Lockette to a low-cost deal.
Next: 4. Bryce Brown
4. Bryce Brown
This writer has already lobbied for the Patriots to move on from LeGarrette Blount in 2016. In addition to targeting C.J. Prosise in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Patriots should consider signing veteran Bryce Brown in free agency.
First off, the Patriots have thought about signing Brown before. Just last September, the Pats brought in Brown for a workout. Evidently, they have some level of prior interest in the bruising back.
Brown gained attention as a rookie back in 2012 when he rushed for 564 yards and four touchdowns with a nice average of just under five yards per carry.
Top 10 QBs in Patriots’ franchise history
His second season in Philly was a little less exciting but still respectable (314 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries) and then Brown signed with the Buffalo Bills during free agency.
Here’s highlights of Brown’s first few seasons in the NFL as a member of the Eagles:
Brown’s career took a nosedive in Buffalo, where he managed just 126 yards on 36 carries. In 2015, Brown was signed by the Seattle Seahawks; considering Marshawn Lynch just retired, the Seahawks may want to retain Brown, so the Patriots might have to sweeten the deal a bit to sign him.
Next: 3. Najee Goode
3. Najee Goode
To bolster depth at linebacker and provide another special teams body, the Patriots should consider signing Goode in free agency. You may remember him; he was the guy who scooped up Chris Maragos’ punt block for a touchdown in Week 12 when the Patriots faltered against the Eagles.
With only 20 career tackles to his names since joining the league in 2012 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Goode is very much an under-the-radar free agent. His best season was in 2013, his first with the Eagles, when he recorded 15 tackles, three passes defended and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Top 15 Patriots moments of 2015
Signing Goode would be a low-risk, medium-reward move for the Patriots in free agency. As it stands right now, Jonathan Freeny, Darius Fleming, Dekoda Watson and Dane Fletcher make up the depth behind superstar linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins. Adding Goode to that mix would make guys like Fleming, Watson and Fletcher work a little bit harder to remain on the team in training camp.
Throw in that special teams promise, and you have yourself a moldable Bill Belichick player in Goode.
Next: 2. Brandon Boykin
2. Brandon Boykin
After being jerked around in terms of playing time by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015, Boykin may be looking to sign elsewhere in free agency. One of the better slot corners in the NFL, Boykin could be a huge boost to the Patriots’ secondary.
You see, the Pats did well in 2015 at the starting cornerback spots. Malcolm Butler earned a Pro Bowl nod as the No. 1 cornerback, and Logan Ryan was equally impressive in the No. 2 role. But the Patriots couldn’t find a suitable nickel corner to round-out the rotation; seeing as how the Patriots love the nickel, this was a problem.
10 Long-term positives from Patriots’ 2015 season
Well, Boykin would be a quick fix to that issue. Better yet, Boykin has yet to miss a single game in his four years as a pro, so he is dependable. He may be a bit undersized at 5-foot-9, 183 pounds, but Boykin is extremely nimble in coverage, especially in the slot.
Of the players listed thus far, Boykin would provide the most immediate upside for the Patriots. They should waste no time in signing him when free agency opens.
Next: 1. Ladarius Green
1. Ladarius Green
This would be an absolute dream. Standing at 6-foot-6 (Rob Gronkowski’s height), Green would allow the Patriots to toy around with two-tight end sets in 2016. Green isn’t a great blocker, but that’s alright—Michael Williams has those duties covered.
The Scott Chandler experiment didn’t pan out the way Patriots fans had hoped, as the 6-foot-7 tight end got phased out as the 2015 season wore on. Chandler lacked the speed and athleticism to give the Patriots a true dual threat at the tight end position.
Patriots’ Top 3 offseason agenda items
Having played alongside Antonio Gates for four seasons, Green is accustomed to playing second fiddle to a future Hall of Fame tight end. He would have no trouble getting used to life as Gronk’s teammate.
2015 was Green’s best year as a pro thus far, as he snagged 37 passes for 429 yards and four touchdowns. He is going to be a relatively sought-after product on the free agent market because of his blend of size and athleticism, but Green could still be had at a decent price.
Next: 5 positions Patriots must address in free agency
Keep an eye on these five players as we get closer to the start of free agency on March 9.