Patriots: 3 Moves Bill Belichick Should Make With New Cap Space

2. Add Everson Griffen to Pass Rush

Does Everson Griffen joining the Patriots not sound like a classic Belichick move?

Can someone explain how Everson Griffen is still a free agent? After talks with the Minnesota Vikings stalled and he expressed his desire to play elsewhere, no team has capitalized on the opportunity to sign the four-time Pro Bowler, who earned all those bids in the last five seasons.

The Vikings botched their offseason, to say the least, and further fractured their relationship with Griffen. At this point, he’s probably not going to get the exact deal he wants, so why not sign with a revamped Super Bowl contender? A Griffen-Patriots union just seems like classic Patriots — a disgruntled veteran looking for greener pastures on a defense-first team.

Since 2014, Griffen has registered 57 sacks, 138 QB hits and 65 tackles for loss in 88 games. Think that won’t play on New England’s defense? Put him on the defensive line or as a standup outside linebacker and watch the pass rush terrorize the opposition.

Griffen’s only gotten better with age, so there’s no reason Belichick shouldn’t dip into that cap space and coax the 32-year-old to join the Pats. They can’t offer him a whole lot, but perhaps an incentive-laden deal, a la Newton’s, could get the job done.

This move almost seems too easy and characteristic.