Here are four players who won’t be with the Patriots in 2021.
The New England Patriots avoided maximum embarrassment on Sunday when they ended the 2020 season with a win over the New York Jets. For a minute there, you surely thought they were going to lose, based on how everything was transpiring.
But they pulled out the W, ended a respectable 7-9 with all things considered, and will look to orchestrate some sort of a roster re-tool in 2021. As the days go by, we have a clearer picture in regard to who will remain with the franchise and who won’t, merely based on injuries, performance and contract situations. It isn’t rocket science.
This year’s Patriots were unrecognizable, and next year’s will be too, especially when you consider the overarching changes that need to be made in order to get this team back to where it was just a year ago.
While there will be a number of other, tougher roster decisions to come in the next few months, these feel like they’re already set in stone. In fact, one already is.
4. Cam Newton
Cam Newton and the Patriots have reportedly agreed to part ways.
Let’s start this off with an easy one. Though we were understandably excited about Newton in a Patriots uniform for years to come after his Week 2 performance against the Seattle Seahawks, he’s been nothing but (sadly) dreadful ever since. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns. That’s all you need to know.
It was obvious all year that Newton’s shoulder still isn’t 100%. Say what you want about grasping the offense and learning a new system — but that wasn’t the issue with the former MVP. His awareness in the pocket was nonexistent. He missed easy throws. His delivery was far too long.
It just didn’t work out. There’s no doubt that the Patriots and Bill Belichick enjoyed Newton’s presence. The man’s effort and work ethic were praised on a weekly basis and his personality was certainly embraced by most in the organization.
But with the Patriots looking at a completely different direction after 2020 didn’t go their way in so many respects, this was the one more that felt like a foregone conclusion after Week 16.
3. Rex Burkhead
It’s hard to imagine the Patriots re-signing Rex Burkhead.
Rex Burkhead will be a free agent, and his situation is as unfortunate as it gets. Not only did he take a pay cut prior to the 2020 season to remain with the Patriots instead of getting released, but he then suffered a torn ACL midway through the season, which pretty much ended any hope for him to get one last somewhat lucrative contract.
Up until that point, he was having a productive season for the Patriots, which likely would’ve made him an asset to bring back, or for another team in free agency. Now, he’ll likely miss the start of next season and there’s really no point for New England to bring him back with Sony Michel’s resurgence, Damien Harris taking over as the No. 1 running back, and the likely scenario in which James White is retained at a discount.
We also can’t forget about JJ Taylor, who showed some burst out of the backfield (both as a runner and receiver) and on special teams. The Patriots already have three running backs on the roster and would likely prefer to bring back White over Burkhead.
It’s a fairly safe bet Burkhead won’t be a Patriot in 2021. But we will miss his elusiveness and tough running.
2. N’Keal Harry
The 2020 season gave the Patriots more evidence that N’Keal Harry isn’t a starter.
We’d like to think this is a “hot take,” but when you finish the season with fewer receiving yards than a guy who played in six games when you played in 13, then it’s clear you’re not the playmaker you were drafted to be. Yup, N’Keal Harry finished with 309 receiving yards to Julian Edelman’s 315.
Regardless of your team’s quarterback situation, that’s draft bust material. Harry was vastly out-played by Jakobi Meyers (an undrafted FA in the same class) and Damiere Byrd (a bottom-barrel FA signing brought in to maintain continuity with Newton), and it wasn’t even close.
Yes, he’s under contract for two more years, but we’re here to bet Belichick explores trades involving the former first-round pick because it’s clear he’s just not going to work out in the Patriots’ system, regardless of who the QB is. Harry is your prime change-of-scenery candidate and the Pats, at this point, would almost take anything in return for him.
With another year of heavy turnover on offense, a tweak to the playbook depending on who comes in to play quarterback, and some question marks surrounding Josh McDaniels, the 2021 situation is not one that will be conducive to Harry’s success.
Don’t be surprised when he’s donning a different uniform come next September.
1. Julian Edelman
We’re surely taking a risk here, but it feels like Julian Edelman won’t be a Patriots wideout in 2021.
Julian Edelman once again battled injuries in 2020, which feels like an annual occurrence for the veteran. Coming off a career year in 2019, Edelman’s six-game campaign was as underwhelming as it gets. Despite an epic performance in Week 2, Edelman was generally a non-factor on offense, which really says a lot when you consider who was taking the field on a weekly basis.
Knee surgery and a stint on the COVID-19 list ended his season despite countless teasers suggesting his return, and for some odd reason, this season from hell has fans thinking that this is the end of the road for Edelman in a Patriots uniform. Why? Because if the offense is undergoing monumental changes, there’s no sense in keeping a liability (in terms of health) in Edelman around when you can save $4 million by cutting him loose, or get your hands on a late-round draft pick in a trade.
Edelman is an incredible athlete, but he’s going to be 35 years old next season and we have zero evidence of his capabilities in the receiving game without Tom Brady. We’re not saying he’s incapable of performing without the future Hall of Famer, but at this point in his career, it’ll be an uphill battle for him to develop a successful rapport with another new QB.
Though the Patriots have a plethora of cap space heading into the offseason, Belichick isn’t wasteful. He’s more known for getting rid of players a year too early than a year too late, and we’d venture to say there’s going to be some sort of “mutual” parting of the ways or a trade that puts Edelman in a very favorable situation in the coming months.
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