The Patriots can have the perfect free agency with 3 more moves
The New England Patriots have had a solid free agency period thus far, but they can make it just perfect with a few more moves. The team got off to a slow start but did pick it up later in the first week of free agency.
They’ve re-signed some of their own players which has been nice to see and they also have invested in other free agents to try and improve the roster. Some of their best moves thus far have been signing Mike Gesicki and landing running back James Robinson.
I’m a huge fan of both of those moves, and upgrading from Jakobi Meyers for the same price in JuJu Smith-Schuster was also a nice move.
However, their free agency has been far from perfect, but they can make it perfect with a few more moves.
The Patriots can have the perfect free agency with 3 more moves
First move: Trade for LT Jonah Williams
As soon as the Cincinnati Bengals signed Orlando Brown Jr, Jonah Williams, a former first round pick out of Alabama, requested a trade. There’s no reason to believe that he won’t be dealt, and I’m not sure Cincy has much leverage here. Williams is just 25 years old and could be a long-term left tackle option for the team as Trent Brown was not playing too well from that position last year.
In the wake of the Orlando Brown signing, #Bengals OT Jonah Williams has requested a trade through his agent Ryan Tollner, sources say. Just 25 years old with 47 career starts at LT protecting Joe Burrow, Williams becomes the top tackle available if Cincy is willing to move on. pic.twitter.com/miTcjVjCtG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2023
This trade makes a ton of sense. Trading for Williams and moving Brown back to the right tackle spot allows the Patriots to target the wide receiver position with their first round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Second move: Trade for WR DeAndre Hopkins
I don’t really care how much it’ll cost the team to make this move, I need it badly. Hopkins surely won’t remain on the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, right? The team has a completely new regime in town an the Patriots have a huge need at wide receiver.
A WR duo of Hopkins + Smith- Schuster would be quite the tandem for opposing defenses to handle.
Seeing as Brandin Cooks did not go for a ton, I don’t see why the Pats couldn’t pull this deal off.
Third move: Sign CB Marcus Peters
The Patriots most definitely have a need in the secondary and Marcus Peters could certainly help solve that need. He isn’t going to be a long-term option, obviously, but Peters could provide some of the ball-hawking that the Pats have lost over the last two seasons with the departure of JC Jackson and the retirement of Devin McCourty.
I’d also think signing Peters would be a great idea especially if the Pats consider taking a cornerback or two at some point in the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s imperative that they keep the defense as good as possible, especially given the uncertainty of the offense.