Three positions for Patriots to target in free agency
The New England Patriots have quite a bit of cap space available in 2023 and should target a few positions in free agency. Free agency is always a fun time of the year, especially when top of the market players get paid huge amounts of money.
The Pats did this after the 2020 season. They invested heavily in the 2021 offseason, bringing in countless free agents to try and put a competitive team together. It did pay off a bit, as they went 10-7 with a rookie Mac Jones and earned themselves a playoff berth.
Now, with money to spend in 2023, could the team be just as aggressive, or will we see them more reserved this time around?
Three positions for Patriots to target in free agency
1. Quarterback
Perhaps I am in the minority here, but if there was ever a time for the Patriots to make an upgrade at quarterback, it’s this offseason. Free agency also involves trades, so we can’t rule those out. Recently, I proposed a trade that would send Mac Jones and a bunch of draft picks to the Raiders for Davante Adams and Derek Carr.
Given the team’s strong defense, it makes no sense to waste it going forward. Going all-in on fixing the offense in 2023, which includes a new play-caller, could have massive and positive impacts on the team’s performance.
2. Wide receiver
The wide receiver free agent market is not good, but the Patriots can still make a bit of noise here. Both Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor are free agents in 2023. It’s clear that Agholor won’t be re-signed, but I have to think that re-signing Meyers is a top priority for the team.
There also may me low-risk, high-reward targets in guys like Allen Lazard and DJ Chark who could take over a true X role for the team. Tyquan Thornton will likely be entering a very crucial year two, and Kendrick Bourne would be entering the last year of his contract.
Re-signing Meyers, signing someone like Lazard or Chark and taking a receiver rather high in the 2023 NFL Draft would be a smart series of moves for the Pats.
3. Cornerback
The Pats have a stable of talented young cornerbacks, but they don’t yet have a true shutdown man, and that’s something they should at least attempt to find in 2023. I think if you had to pick a weakpoint of the defense, it’s the cornerback room, but I do think they have some potential going into 2023.
Signing someone like Marcus Peters, a ballhawk, could help replace some of the production that was lost when JC Jackson left the team for the Los Angeles Chargers before the 2022 season. Jackson’s first year in LA was a disaster, but the Pats likely do miss what he brought to the table.
Signing a free agent cornerback and simply getting more bodies into the room is a good idea.