Patriots: 4 acquisitions that could help New England turn everything around
By Jerry Trotta
Is it crazy to think that Tom Brady winning a Super Bowl in his first season away from the Patriots could prove to be a blessing in disguise for the organization moving forward? After all, it resulted in even more pundits claiming that he was more responsible for the dynasty than Bill Belichick.
Knowing how Belichick tends to hold grudges and doesn’t typically enjoy missing out on winning trophies, there’s reason to believe that Brady receiving THIS much publicity from a legacy standpoint could light a fire under Coach to get the Patriots back into the playoffs in 2021 by any means necessary.
The 68-year-old head coach acknowledged this year that he didn’t spend money last offseason because he knew the salary cap would ultimately be lowered as a result of lost revenue from the coronavirus pandemic.
That way of thinking seems diabolical, but it has predictably equipped him with the requisite finances to land a handful of marquee free agents this time around.
The last time the Patriots had this much cap space in February was in 2017. They signed Stephon Gilmore. Ended the 2017 season with $3,012,602 in cap space. This precedent tells me the Patriots will use a great deal of their cap space this year. https://t.co/SGCJv0cPlO
— Miguel Benzan Patriots Cap Space is 12,198,438 (@patscap) February 8, 2021
If there was ever a time for Belichick to put his money where his mouth is, it’s fresh off the Patriots’ worst season (by record) in two decades, so let’s highlight four acquisitions that would really help accelerate their efforts to morph back into contenders for 2021.
These four offseason acquisitions could help the Patriots turn everything around.
4. Corey Davis
Corey Davis could thrive as a featured component of the Patriots’ offense.
The Patriots’ wide receiver shortcomings were on full display this past season, as Jakobi Meyers, a former undrafted rookie in the 2019 class, was the only member of the corps that proved he deserves a prominent role in the future.
However, as promising as Meyers was as a sophomore — he led the team with 59 catches, 729 yards and an impressive 72.4% catch rate — most fans would agree that he’s better served as the third option (or a slot specialist) in the passing game. That’s what makes Corey Davis such an intriguing target in free agency this offseason.
The Titans declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Davis’ rookie contract, which would’ve carried a $15.68 million salary in 2021, making him a free agent. The 26-year-old hasn’t exactly lived up to the billing of a former No. 5 overall pick, but given that he’s fallen behind the likes of Derrick Henry and AJ Brown in the touch and target pecking order, that’s understandable.
Not to mention that Davis’ quarterback situation was the opposite of ideal over his first two seasons in the league.
The bottom line is that this is a player with ample talent and potential who has yet to be fully unleashed. We’ve certainly seen glimpses of what he brings to the table, but he could flourish in a featured role in a Patriots offense that’s literally begging to add a dynamic playmaker of his caliber.