On February 10, the NFL offseason begins in earnest. It follows the Super Bowl, and again, it's another critical one for the cellar-dwelling Patriots. The 2024 offseason was a disaster, leading to a dismal record of 4-13 and another trip to the bottom of the AFC East.
The offseason has several aspects, including signing free agents, the draft, undrafted free agents, and trades. Another less talked-about aspect concerns how a team deals with its own free agents. It's not as glitzy as the other, perhaps, but it is still an important aspect of team-building, or re-building, as is the case for the Patriots.
There are 17 Patriots free agents. If Mike Vrabel is serious about re-making this team in his image, then many, if not most, of the 17 will be allowed to go. Here, we'll explore several of their own higher-profile free agents whom the Patriots can let walk.
The most prominent Patriots free agents who can leave
Four prominent free agents who can surely go are Jonathan Jones, Jacoby Brissett, Deatrich Wise Jr., and Chuks Okorafor (who's already gone). First, let's talk about Jacoby Brissett, who began the 2024 season as the Patriots' starting quarterback and tackle Chuks Okorafor.
Brissett is the archetypal failed free agent signed by Eliot Wolf, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel. Dishing a whopping $8M on a mostly career backup destined to warm the bench made no sense. Owner Robert Kraft made it clear he wanted a quarterback with the third overall pick, and realistically, he'd have to play. Predictably, Brissett was benched in game five.
The next dud signed by Wolf cost less at a guaranteed $3.25M but didn't even earn almost any of it. Okorafoor, a career right tackle, was touted by Wolf as a candidate to play on the left. That naivete warrants an article itself. Suffice it to say, Okorafor could neither play left tackle nor even right and was gone after two games.
Those were Wolf's worst two free-agent signings in 2024. They signaled he was not ready for prime time as an NFL general manager, not that it should have come as any surprise. Wolf had been a major advisor in Bill Belichick's personnel operation for years. Poor personnel decision-making was a major factor in Belichick's being shown the door after the 2024 season.
Time for the Patriots to cut ties with 2 other veterans who were significant earners in 2024
It's also time to cut ties with two additional significant free agents who've been Patriots for years. It's not always easy in these circumstances, but if Mike Vrabel is serious about improving his team, decisions like these are necessary.
First is the largest earner in 2024 in the Patriots' free agent class, nine-year Patriots veteran Jonathan Jones. The team dished out $13M in guarantees to Jones in 2024, but his play did not warrant it. Jones played in all 17 games and had a respectable 58 total stops, six passes defended, and two forced fumbles.
Yet Jones has had no interceptions the past two years and will be entering his year-32 season. It's undisputable that the $13M on the cap can be used much more effectively at any number of positions, such as wide receiver, left tackle, edge, and defensive tackle. Jones should be allowed to leave.
Another veteran Patriot who should be allowed to leave is defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. Wise, who has been a solid player for the Patriots for eight years. In 2024, in 15 games, he had a decent five sacks, three passes defended, and eight quarterback hits. But he notched only a meager 29 total stops.
Wise will be entering his year-31 season. He made a guaranteed $10M in 2024. His stats aren't anywhere near commensurate with that salary. His cap space should be used to add a top edge to replace him in free agency.
Those are four major highly paid free agents who can go and be replaced by the Patriots either in free agency or the draft. Their cap space should be allocated to signing two or three top free agents in the positions of need previously mentioned. Others on the list of 17 can stay or go. Keep Austin Hooper, Christian Elliss, and maybe Daniel Ekuale, only if they're retained on cap-friendly deals.