11 free agents Patriots need to circle back to after the NFL Draft
FS Quandre Diggs
It's hard to dismiss the idea of signing a three-time Pro Bowl safety who has not missed a single game in four seasons and is as consistent as they come. That's what makes Quandre Diggs' availability even more puzzling, but he likely fell victim to the influx of safeties in free agency this year and overlooked because of it.
One of Diggs' best attributes that makes him fit the mold of a Patriot player is his versatility. Since joining the league in 2015, he's played multiple positions in the secondary and succeeded at them all.
He has stuck to being a free safety since being traded to the Seahawks in 2019 and has put together some of the best seasons of his career in the four years since.
Since arriving in Seattle, he's recorded 324 combined tackles, three tackles for a loss, 18 interceptions returned for 315 yards and a touchdown. On top of that, he adds 32 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, essentially checking off every box imaginable in just 72 regular season games.
At this point, despite his talent, the Patriots could probably sign Diggs to a reasonable contract, even if just for one season. He's more than worthy of testing out for a year, especially since they're already good at the position.
So why not put them over the top by bringing him in?
CB J.C. Jackson
The unexpected reunion between the Patriots and J.C. Jackson last season was one that fans initially embraced, as the cornerback was another player that felt like he shouldn't have ever left the team in free agency.
He had put together an impressive resume during his first stint in New England, which led to him receiving a massive contract from the Chargers. However, he dealt with injuries and struggled to integrate into the defense upon arriving out west. This inevitably led to LA trading him to the Patriots, and it seemed like both Jackson and the Chargers were happy about the split.
Jackson's return to Foxboro didn't start or end so greatly, though. There were issues behind the scenes that forced Bill Belichick to sideline him, and when he was on the field, he wasn't the same player he had once been. Everything coupled together made for a challenging year for the young cornerback, who took a personal leave of absence to end the 2023 season.
Although the new regime cut him early this offseason, Jerod Mayo left the door open to bring Jackson back. It seemed like the main reason for his release was his contract and now that they're clear of it, he could easily return.
Because he remains unsigned and had a tough 2023, re-signing Jackson feels like a low-risk, potentially high-reward situation. If he can get back to the player he was during his first tenure with the team, then they'd be golden.