Patriots: 3 surprise cuts Pats should make after 2020

Here are three unexpected players who the Patriots should cut after the 2020 campaign.

While the New England Patriots are still mathematically alive in the AFC playoff picture, their chances of qualifying for the dance seem to fade with each passing week. After last Sunday’s loss to Houston, it’s not a stretch to say that they literally have zero margin for error for the rest of the season.

Given how the rest of the standings look, the Patriots would probably have to go undefeated the rest of the way to make the playoffs. That, or a 5-1 finish while getting massive help from other teams might be able to do it, but we wouldn’t hold our breath in that scenario (though we’ve been pretty lucky for the past, oh, 20 years).

The bottom line is that we wouldn’t fault fans who are already looking forward to the offseason, which is shaping up to be one of the most lively for the Patriots in recent years. Not only will they be flush with salary cap space, but they will also have several burning questions to answer in regard to the future of some players, including free agents.

Given how many tentacles are attached to free agency, we’ll leave that discussion for when we get a little closer to the offseason. For now, however, let’s attempt to highlight three players who have underperformed so far this season that the Patriots should consider cutting at (or around) training camp next year.

3. Julian Edelman

It’s time for Patriots fans to admit that Julian Edelman isn’t valuable anymore.

Julian Edelman is undoubtedly the most high-profile name on this list, and the only reason he didn’t fall higher is because it’s difficult to picture a scenario where the Patriots cut him. However, even his biggest supporters can admit that his age is finally starting to take a toll on his overall effectiveness.

The former seventh-round pick will be 35 by the time training camp rolls around and, other than the leadership he brings to the locker room, we honestly can’t think of a reason to bring him back after this season. After an encouraging opening two games — in which he tallied 13 catches for 236 yards — he compiled just eight receptions for 79 yards on a woeful 38% catch rate over his next four contests before landing on injured reserve with a knee injury. He also leads the league in drops since the start of last season.

Edelman will only account for a $6.6 million cap hit in 2021, but the Patriots can save $4 million if they were to axe him. Again, they don’t necessarily have to pinch their pennies in light of their newfound surplus of cash, but it goes without saying that they need an injection of youth at the WR position.

Assuming the Patriots make a play for a bonafide No.1 wideout, we’d have zero qualms with cutting Edelman and rolling with the likes of Jakobi Meyers, N’Keal Harry and Marquis Lee,  the latter of whom fans have probably forgotten about, as the remaining options.