New contract talks between Nick Caserio and Patriots ineffective

The New England Patriots and director of player personnel Nick Caserio appear to be on track for an acrimonious split this offseason.

A mass exodus away from Foxborough is one of the biggest fears for many New England Patriots fans right about now.

Well, the biggest fear of all is not making a deep postseason run. Or some particularly pessimistic fans might even say it’s losing to the Bills this weekend and somehow stumbling against the Dolphins in Week 17 to fall to a wild card spot… but let’s not go there.

Whatever happens with the 2019 season and the Pats’ playoff fortunes, the one thing many fans should be afraid of – and honestly should start preparing themselves for as well – is a whole lot of change during this upcoming offseason.

A number of coaches, staffers, and players could be trading in their Patriots work credentials for another team’s this spring. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has had his name come up in the rumor mill as a potential head coach somewhere else once again – he’s also supposedly been linked to a management position within the Jaguars organization as well. Defensive line coach Bret Bielema has been open about the fact that he’s considering a number of head coaching jobs back in the college ranks.

And then of course there are the players.

Tom Brady could either retire or sign with another team altogether – heaven forbid either option, obviously. Julian Edelman isn’t going anywhere, but he’s also reportedly dealing with a potentially serious knee injury that could conceivably require surgery at some point and a lengthy recovery.

And then there are the 21 different players who are set to test free agency – important pieces like Devin McCourty, Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy, Joe Thuney, Matthew Slater, etc.

All in all, it could be a tumultuous offseason for New England.

One important figure who looks like he might already have his foot out the door is director of player personnel Nick Caserio. Caserio has been with the team in various capacities for 18 years now (since 2001), but it appears his time in Boston might be fast coming to a close.

He almost became the Houston Texans’ GM last offseason, but because he was still under contract with the Patriots, Robert Kraft filed tampering charges against the Texans and essentially forced Caserio to withdraw his candidacy. Houston backed off and Kraft dropped the charges; Caserio stuck around to complete the final year of his deal this season, in turn.

But he’s a free agent of sorts himself come the end of this year for the Pats, and it looks as if any talks of a contract extension have “gotten nowhere,” per NFL Network’s Mike Garafalo, via NBC Sports Boston’s Nick Goss.

Goss notes several different reports in his article that also link Caserio to vacant jobs around the NFL, including that same GM position with the Texans and a similar role with the Carolina Panthers.

If all of this is to be believed, it looks increasingly like it’s more a matter of “when” than “if” Caserio plans to leave the Patriots this offseason. The more important question is quickly becoming who the Patriots should tap to replace him when he does leave.