Patriots: 3 potential cap casualties NE can target this offseason
By Adam Weinrib
The New England Patriots have enough cap space to clean up other people’s messes.
One team’s cap casualties are another team’s treasure — and with more cap space than just about anyone entering a pandemic-altered offseason, the Patriots are uniquely poised to add free agent talent, no matter the source.
You’re going to hear Bill Belichick’s name attached to just about every prominent name on the market, but what about the onerous contracts that are getting in the way of everyone else’s bidding?
There are useful pieces on the market everywhere — even if they’re no longer worth the bloated contracts they recently saddled their current teams with.
No, the Patriots won’t find their quarterback of the future here. Luckily, there are plenty of other avenues available to address that need.
But there are impact wide receivers, both possession and game-breaking, who should be available. The Pats can beef up their tight end corps, too, likely slicing a few names from their unit before trying to improve it.
Never count out Bill Belichick in free agency, especially when he’s flush with this much cash and has a chance to make fools out of other organizations, thanks to their financial foibles.
3. David Njoku, TE, Browns
How long are we going to have to listen to prognosticators prattle on about Njoku’s potential fit in New England before one side caves and just brings him here?
Seeing as the Browns might simply cut the beefy tight end this offseason, his path to the Patriots could get a lot easier.
The Browns’ loss could be the Patriots’ gain with David Njoku.
Many believed Njoku would be a goner the second Cleveland signed Austin Hooper last offseason, in addition to drafting Harrison Bryant, an ultra-talented receiving and blocking tight end out of FAU.
Njoku’s fifth-year option was picked up right alongside Myles Garrett’s last winter, which wasn’t good enough for the player or his agent. Trade demands were made, trade demands weren’t met, and then trade demands petered out.
Though he’s now third on the depth chart in Cleveland and set to make $6 million in 2021, Njoku quietly had an exceptional season as a blocker, ranking as PFF’s best pass-blocking TE as the 2020 season approached its finale.
Njoku is no typical road-grader, but he’s shown a proficiency in an area Belichick covets. If he doesn’t have to give him a raise on his $6 million salary, there could be a perfect fit here — or, at least, a better fit than the one in The Land.