The underlying reason why the Patriots are stocking up in 2016
To say the New England Patriots have been active this offseason would be an understatement. After letting other teams overspend at the beginning of free agency, the Patriots acted swiftly and have been milking every ounce of worth out of the market since.
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They also have made several trades which have sent ripple effects throughout the NFL landscape, namely the shipping of Chandler Jones to the NFC West.
Here is a list of the players the Patriots have acquired this offseason:
WR Chris Hogan
WR Nate Washington
TE Martellus Bennett
TE Clay Harbor
RB Donald Brown
OL Jonathan Cooper
CB E.J. Biggers
LB Ramon Humber
LB Shea McClellin
DE Frank Kearse
DE Chris Long
DT Terrance Knighton
Quite a long list. Why have the Patriots been so uncharacteristically active in the months following their loss in the 2015 AFC Championship? The underlying reason is simple: Tom Brady.
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Look, Brady turns 39 in August. He may be drinking from a fountain of youth, but he is also human; he will decline and retire eventually. It may be in two years, it may be in six years. We don’t know for sure.
But judging by the earnestness of the Patriots’ front office this offseason, it’s clear that the Patriots are stockpiling ammunition to improve their chances of winning a Super Bowl in the short-term before Brady retires. Of course, the Patriots plan on winning the Super Bowl every year, but their aggression in free agency and trades indicate that there is an added layer of motivation.
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You can look at the defensive tackle position, for example. After being undermanned on the interior of the defensive line in 2013, Bill Belichick has learned his lesson and is loading up on manpower at defensive tackle. The addition of Terrance Knighton bolsters starting caliber depth behind Malcom Brown, Dominique Easley and Alan B ranch, essentially insuring the Patriots against an injury bug at the position.
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Or, take wide receiver. Much like 2007, the Patriots are giving Brady no shortage of new weapons, from star tight end Bennett to veteran wideouts Hogan and Washington. Oh, and don’t forget about the signing of shifty running back Brown.
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No, not all of these veterans will make the final roster. But the point here is that the Patriots are going all-in on personnel because Brady’s time in the league is winding down.
Brady will need talent around him to sustain his status as a top-three quarterback despite being the old man out of the league’s guild of signal callers. No longer will Brady be able to shoulder the entire load; the older he gets, the more he will need a new free agent signing to emerge, or a rookie to ascend into stardom. You get the idea.
Next: 6 WRs Pats should consider in 2016 NFL Draft
Stay tuned here on Musket Fire for coverage on every twist and turn in the Patriots’ offseason.