At this very moment, the New England Patriots‘ financial flexibility (just over $7 million) isn’t enough to make the necessary upgrades to improve the roster, especially with how much talent they’re losing. There are some solutions, however.
Roster cuts and trades could free up substantial space, allowing Bill Belichick to chase a few potential desired free agent targets … but don’t expect a spending spree anywhere close to last year. OK, maybe one big signing.
As for other additions, don’t you just think Belichick will turn around and do the classic “bring back former Patriots” strategy to help keep the system in check? He even mixed that in last year by reuniting with Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Trent Brown.
Believe it or not, there are a TON of players who are about to hit the open market and have a previous connection to Belichick. In fact, there are even more beyond this list we’ve compiled, but we decided to go with more prominent names as well as those who could actually fill a roster need.
So who might reunite with the Patriots this offseason? Likely or unlikely? We’ve got that covered, too.
NFL free agents who could join Patriots based on connection with Bill Belichick.
Almost Certainly Not Happening: Stephon Gilmore, Nate Solder, Cam Newton, Mohamed Sanu
Easy enough to get this one out of the way before we dive into more plausible possibilities. In an alternate universe, we could see the Patriots reuniting and making good with Gilmore to absorb JC Jackson’s likely departure. Also, maybe Cam Newton as Mac Jones’ backup? His stint in Carolina further proved he’s simply not a starter anymore. Neither scenario would happen, but they’re worth loosely mentioning.
New England has no reason to bring back Solder or Sanu, both of whom would be by far the worst players at their positions if they joined the team tomorrow. Solder left the Patriots in free agency years ago to endure an embarrassing tenure with the New York Giants where he was found not blocking at all on most occasions, while Sanu’s brief and awful stint in New England (after being acquired for a second-round pick!) resulted in his release before the start of the 2020 season.
Gilmore was traded because of an injury contract dispute. They willingly let Solder leave and replaced him with better players. They cut Newton and Sanu. Safe to say these guys will be elsewhere to start 2022.
Glory Day Playmakers: Danny Amendola, Nate Ebner
Hey, we’re just wondering about depth here! The Patriots will need help at wide receiver, safety and special teams when free agency opens, and perhaps we’re not too far outside of our minds to believe Danny Amendola and Nate Ebner could help in these departments.
Amendola’s season with the Houston Texans was shortened by thigh and knee injuries, but he racked up 24 catches for 248 yards and three touchdowns in the eight games he saw the field. Mostly with a rookie quarterback! That’s really not bad.
Ebner, on the other hand, spent the last two seasons with the New York Giants after he followed Joe Judge to the Big Apple. Injuries derailed his 2021 campaign (just six games played), but he logged over 81% of the special teams snaps during his tenure with the G-Men. With Matthew Slater possibly retiring, bringing back a guy like Ebner, who was a special teams machine in New England, could help that veteran continuity live on.
Possible? Yup. Likely? Not entirely, especially if the Patriots are really motivated to make the necessary upgrades.
Maybe?! Sony Michel, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Duron Harmon
Weird assortment of players! Sony Michel was traded last offseason and the Patriots’ backfield situation remains the same. Hard to see where he might fit in … but then again all it takes is an offseason injury to change the narrative.
Kamu Grugier-Hill was a sixth-round pick of the Patriots back in 2016. What happened there? He didn’t make the roster, quickly joined the Philadelphia Eagles, and helped defeat New England in Super Bowl LII. Wild stuff. He’s now coming off a career season in Houston where he logged 108 tackles (13 for loss), three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception … in just 14 games!
Belichick badly needs to improve the second level with Ja’Whaun Bentley, Terez Hall and Dont’a Hall becoming free agents. Grugier-Hill, now 27 years old with a ton of experience under his belt, could be a worthwhile addition for a relatively reasonable price.
And finally, Harmon, who was traded after the Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning 2019 season, just had two career campaigns away from New England with the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons. He racked up a combined 140 tackles, 10 passes defended and four interceptions in 33 games. He never came close to that all-around production with the Pats.
Coincidentally, the Patriots will need safety help. Devin McCourty is hitting free agency and that could be a monumental loss. Harmon, 31, would represent a familiar face seemingly at the height of his career. And you’re not exactly hearing about how in demand he’ll be, which is exactly when the Patriots make sure to strike.
Possible Addition on Offense: Cordarrelle Patterson
Speaking of career seasons, Cordarrelle Patterson just had his best and it was oddly reminiscent of his time with the Patriots when he was deployed as a hybrid running back/wide receiver. Patterson just racked up 618 rushing yards and 548 receiving yards in 16 games with the Atlanta Falcons but was overshadowing by Deebo Samuel’s insane production with the 49ers.
Is this where the Patriots would be willing to spend, though? Patterson can return kicks, too, so perhaps. A weapon like this for Mac Jones in an offense that will no longer be called by Josh McDaniels would help on a multitude of fronts. Patterson would provide a change of pace in the rushing attack and open up the field for fellow receivers Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor. Patterson over N’Keal Harry? The possibilities are endless.
Then again, New England needs more of a No. 1 receiving option rather than a Swiss Army knife like Patterson, who’s entering his age-31 season. Maybe they clear enough of the budget to make both acquisitions possible? Either way, Patterson has the Patriots to thank for whatever happens in his free agency endeavors for because it’s led to arguably the best four seasons of his career.
Possible Additions on Defense: Chandler Jones, Jason McCourty and Danny Shelton
In one of the few trades that have really burned Bill Belichick, sending Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals might’ve been the worst. The Patriots received failed offensive line prospect Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick (which was used on Cyrus Jones) while Jones became a single-season sack leader, two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler.
His five-year, $82 million contract he signed with Arizona isn’t what the Patriots usually do, but this would’ve been one of the few times it’s panned out. In six years with Arizona, Jones started 84 games and recorded 262 tackles (80 for loss), 131 QB hits, 71.5 sacks, 23 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries. Though he’s not exactly the force he was from 2017-2019, he still racked up 10.5 sacks, 26 QB hits, 41 tackles (12 for loss) and six forced fumbles in 15 games last year.
We’re unsure what a contract would look like here, but the Patriots, in desperate need to improve their pass rush after seeing what Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailoa did to them this past season, should look into it.
Also on defense, Jason McCourty and Danny Shelton would be there for the taking. McCourty left the Pats last offseason and signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins … but maybe he and his brother Devin switch? Or maybe they’re both brought back? McCourty was limited to just seven games because of injury and will be 35 years old in 2022. Sounds like a cheap one-year contract in New England to us …
And Danny Shelton! He was a Patriots defensive lineman from 2018-2019 and left to follow Belichick disciples Matt Patricia and Joe Judge. But his 2019 campaign with the Patriots stands as his most productive, by far, and his poor season with the Giants isn’t going to have suitors lining up out the door for a 29-year-old defensive tackle whose talents were maximized in an inimitable system.
These three are the most realistic it gets for Patriots’ reunions, and buzz will be aplenty when the new league year begins.
Patriots’ draft and personnel gaffes from 2017-2020 has led to troubling offseason
The New England Patriots' draft and personnel gaffes spanning from 2017 to 2020 has led to this troubling offseason. Can they fix their own mess?