2016 Patriots Free Agency: 5 Dream Targets
As the beginning of free agency nears, here are five players for the New England Patriots to keep firmly on their radar. They are not going to sign all these guys, but even if they inked just one, Patriots fans would be ecstatic.
5. Alshon Jeffery
What a match this would be, although it will likely never happen as the Chicago Bears are expected to slap the franchise tag on their star wide receiver. If they don’t, the Patriots should put some serious thought into signing Jeffery.
Yes, Jeffery has worked through a slew of injuries in his four years as a pro, including knee, calf, groin and hamstring issues. But he is also immensely talented, a truly special pass catcher.
In 2013 and 2014, Jeffery racked up a combined 174 catches, 2,554 yards and 17 touchdowns. 2015 was riddled with injuries for the USC product, but he still managed to snag 54 passes for 807 yards and four touchdowns.
Just imagine how good the Patriots’ offense would be with Jeffery in the fold along with Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. Note that Jeffery’s glory years of 2013 and 2014 were partially enabled by the presence of Brandon Marshall, so being in New England with those two weapons would only benefit Jeffery.
It’s doubtful that the Pats would corral Jeffery, but you can always dream.
Next: 4. Matt Forte
4. Matt Forte
Here’s another member of the 2015 Chicago Bears who would be a dream signing for the Patriots.
Even at age 30, Forte offers plenty of upside for the Patriots. He is the rare running back who brings power between the tackles but can also be a real threat catching passes out of the backfield. Forte is only one year removed from a 2014 season that saw him receive 102 passes for 808 yards.
Of course, the concern with Forte is his age. Once a running back hits 30, reasonable doubts arise around his longevity and effectiveness. But Forte hasn’t showed enough signs for this writer to think he’s washed up.
Keep in mind that over the course of eight years in the league, Forte has missed just eight regular season games. He’s a tough, durable player who still has a few solid seasons left in the tank.
A backfield group of Forte, Dion Lewis, James White and Brandon Bolden with promising fullback Joey Iosefa on the practice squad would be fine with this writer.
Next: 3. Chris Ivory
3. Chris Ivory
If the Patriots can’t get their mitts on Forte, then they should strongly consider plucking Ivory from their divisional rivals who may not retain Ivory, the New York Jets.
One thing about Ivory that is true: he packs a punch. He’s coming off his best season as a pro having rushed for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns in 2015. The former New Orleans Saints running back would be the answer to the Patriots’ power back problem should LeGarrette Blount depart in free agency, as he is expected too. Ivory would be an upgrade over Blount, anyway.
The other factor at play here is the gamesmanship between AFC East rivals. The Patriots and Jets are always shuffling players, from Danny Woodhead to Stevan Ridley to Darrelle Revis. Signing Ivory from the Jets would just be the latest instance of the Patriots trying to get inside the Jets’ heads.
Next: 2. Rolando McClain
2. Rolando McClain
Now that Jerod Mayo has retired, there is room for a plug in the Patriots’ linebacker corps behind stars Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins. Since there is no overwhelming candidate currently on the roster to step up and fill the hole (Jonathan Freeny, Darius Fleming and Dekoda Watson don’t exactly instill excitement), the Patriots are in the market for a free agent linebacker.
McClain would certainly be a dream signing, as the Patriots have shown interest in the veteran before. A linebacker depth chart of Hightower, Collins and McClain would certainly give the Patriots one of the deepest and most athletic groups in the league.
While McClain can be a liability in run defense, he is excellent in pass coverage. Collins and Hightower are both stalwarts against the run, so the Pats are fine in that aspect. They could use McClain’s coverage skills against big, athletic tight ends.
Next: 1. Sean Smith
1. Sean Smith
Wait. Don’t the Patriots already have two solid starting cornerbacks in Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan? Why would they want to sign Smith, a pricey free agent cornerback?
The answer is simple: you can never have too many good cornerbacks on your roster in today’s NFL. The more starting-caliber cornerbacks you have, the better. Furthermore, tall, lanky cornerbacks are always a plus; at 6-foot-3, Smith stands four to five inches taller than any of the Patriots’ corners.
With Smith under contract, the Patriots would have the luxury of moving Ryan to the nickel spot, where he would have an advantage over just about anyone he lines up against (remember, Ryan shut down DeAndre Hopkins and Demaryius Thomas in 2015). Butler and Smith are both capable of covering No. 1 wideouts, so the Patriots could pick and choose which games they want to provide safety help to whom.
It’s always a good idea to introduce fresh blood into the secondary every offseason. That being said, Smith is a long shot dream signing considering his lofty price tag.
Next: Ranking all 9 uniform combos in Pats history
So there you have it: five dream targets for the Patriots in 2016 free agency.