New England Patriots: Ranking Internal Free Agent Priorities
By Hal Bent
GONE:
The big tackle missed all of 2016 due to a hip injury and saw Marcus Cannon step in and take over at right tackle. The Patriots will not pay him over $2 million to come back as a back-up. Vollmer is likely to retire and almost certainly will not be back in New England unless he really wants to come back at a veteran’s minimum contract.
Mingo barely stepped foot on the field as the undersized outside linebacker came over from Cleveland via trade. Mingo made his mark on special teams and not defense which is unexpected for a player who was the number six overall pick just four years ago. Someone will see that potential and throw some cash his way to rush the passer–it just will not be the Patriots.