Patriots: 4 big-time free agents Pats can sign in 2021
By Jerry Trotta
What big-name free agents should the Patriots target next offseason?
Having a short memory is a necessity in the world of sports, and boy, does that ring true when it comes to the New England Patriots and their salary cap situation. As recently as the NFL Draft, they were barely scraping the $1 million mark.
Now, after watching eight players opt out of the 2020 season, and following the Antonio Brown and Aaron Hernandez grievance wins, experts project New England to have approximately $35 million at its disposal this year. It’s not yet known what sort of constraints the coronavirus crisis will have on the new salary cap, but come 2021, the Patriots, according to Spotrac, are expected to have the second greatest budget ($56.74 million) in the NFL.
Like always, these projections are subject to change with possible extensions yet to come, but the point is that New England should be expected to make a handful of marquee transactions next offseason to bolster a roster that, as presently constructed, is more average than we’re used to.
My new 2020 Patriots salary cap space number is $35,282,801. These signing bonus prorations will now become part of the player's 2021 cap number. https://t.co/YUwgf72Ksp
— Miguel Benzan Patriots Cap Space is 12,198,438 (@patscap) August 4, 2020
With this in mind, let’s highlight a few high-profile players that the Patriots should look to target next March.
4. Allen Robinson
Allen Robinson is one of the most talented wide receivers in the NFL, and anyone who thinks otherwise hasn’t watched him play. In 2015, the Penn State product posted 80 receptions for 1,400 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns with the largely erratic Blake Bortles as his quarterback in Jacksonville.
Flash forward to 2019, and Robinson returned to elite form with another questionable gunslinger in Mitchell Trubisky throwing his way. For the year, he hauled in 98 receptions for 1,147 yards and seven scores. Teams were reluctant to sign the former Pro Bowler after he suffered a torn ACL with the Jaguars early on in the 2017 campaign, and understandably so.
Eventually, Robinson landed with Chicago the following March on a three-year, $42 million deal.
The 26-year-old stud returned to form in 2019 after a pedestrian debut campaign with the Bears, and you better believe that he’s itching to get the upcoming season over with as soon as possible so he can test free agency and sign with a team that could maximize his potential. We couldn’t think of a better fit for A-Rob than New England, which is desperate for depth and playmakers at wide receiver.