Here are three players who the Patriots wish they still had on their current roster.
The Patriots looking like a legitimate playoff contender after undergoing a colossal quantity of roster turnover this past offseason just speaks to the greatness of head coach Bill Belichick.
Despite quarterback Cam Newton not being entirely dialed in through the air, New England ultimately coasted to a dominant victory over the Raiders on Sunday, improving to 2-1 on the year in the process. The Patriots could easily be undefeated had they scored from the goal line on the final play of their clash against Seattle in Week 2, so there’s plenty for fans to feel good about three games in.
With that being said, there are still some glaring holes on the roster that could really use some filling at the 2020 trade deadline or in free agency next offseason. Though player opt outs and financial constraints certainly haven’t helped, that reality does fall on Belichick, who, yes, has swung and missed a few times as a general manager across his esteemed career.
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Whether it be trading away players too soon into their respective careers or refusing to re-sign free agents who were understandably asking for top dollar on the open market, Belichick (like every GM) doesn’t have a perfect resume.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at three former players the Patriots wish they still had on their current roster.
3. Brandin Cooks
The Patriots’ current passing game contains no deep threat.
Newton came out last week and admirably asserted that the answers to the Patriots’ supposed wide receiver problem are in the locker room, which dismissed the popular notion that Belichick should look to pull off a trade ahead of the deadline.
While we don’t necessarily disagree with the former MVP, who has the offense buzzing through the first three weeks of the season, the group’s ceiling would be taken to new heights if it had a vertical dimension. Through three games, Newton is averaging 7.8 yards per pass attempt, which ranks 15th among qualified signal callers.
That isn’t a dig at Newton or starting WR trio Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry and Damiere Byrd, but their lack of ability to create separation on deep routes is an undeniable issue and makes the Patriots’ passing attack predictable.
Brandin Cooks, who played for the team in 2017, would fix that problem, as he’s averaged a whopping 14.2 yards per reception and 9.2 yards per target across his career. Despite seemingly being around forever and having suffered a number of concussions, Cooks is still just 27 years old.
The Oregon State product’s inclusion on this list isn’t to say that the Patriots should regret trading him — doing so ultimately resulted in the selection of left tackle Isaiah Wynn — but his speed and game-breaking ability would be a welcomed addition to this current Patriots roster.
2. Kyle Van Noy
The Patriots are lacking an anchor in the middle of their defense.
The Patriots still have a ton of playmakers and leadership on defense, but it’s clear the group is starting to feel the effects of losing a collection of starters from 2019. Not even the genius that is Belichick can overcome that much turnover.
While we understand that the Patriots’ salary cap situation was crippling at the start of the offseason, they could have done a better job in terms of pushing the envelope to re-sign some of their defensive anchors. Look no further than the Rams and Saints signing players to extensions left and right despite having minimal financial wiggle room.
Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who signed a four-year, $51 million contract with Miami back in March, fills that bill. Over the last three seasons, the former second-round pick was arguably the Patriots’ most important player on defense, compiling 221 tackles (19 for loss), 15.5 sacks, 34 QB hits, seven passes defended, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
Though second-year pro Chase Winovich has shown flashes through three games filling in at the OLB spot, there’s no denying that the Patriots could use Van Noy’s commanding presence and invaluable versatility.
1. Jacob Hollister
The Patriots have failed to address the tight end position in recent years.
The Patriots have yet to fill the void at tight end left by Rob Gronkowski’s “shocking” retirement. Any fans choosing to defend Belichick in asserting that announcement caught him off guard should check their facts because the former All-Pro hinted at calling it a career a handful of times over the 2017 and 2018 seasons, especially after a near-trade to the Lions.
That’s what makes the Patriots’ decision to trade Jacob Hollister to Seattle in exchange for a seventh-round pick last offseason so puzzling. In fairness to Belichick, the deal didn’t look regrettable straight away, as Hollister didn’t burst onto the scene until the middle of the year.
When the dust settled, however, he finished third on the Seahawks in both catches (41) and receiving yards (349) in 2019. He also tallied three touchdowns. By no means is Hollister a focal part of Seattle’s offense, but Russell Wilson is absolutely flush with weapons and the Patriots could really use him right now.
Through three games this season, Patriots tight ends have combined to log three receptions (on five targets) for 44 yards. Those numbers prove Belichick doesn’t trust 2020 third-round tandem Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi, and it really remains to be seen if they’ll have any role to play as rookies.
In other words, Newton has zero semblance of a security blanket in the middle of the field, so the Patriots are undoubtedly kicking themselves for unloading Hollister, who has promptly proven to be worth a lot more than a seventh-round selection.
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