Heading into this year's offseason, the Patriots had a lot of players set to hit free agency or even be released under the new incoming staff. There were several crucial players who needed to be re-signed, nearly all of which were, and the list of players let go was mostly expected.
But a few those who became free agents weren't, with at least three remaining free agents nearly two months after hitting the market.
There's a chance any and all could potentially make their way back to New England, mainly in a depth role, which is why it's mostly surprising that they remain unsigned by any team in the NFL.
3 former Patriots who are still surprisingly free agents
S Adrian Phillips
It was a bit of a shocking move when the Patriots cut ties with safety Adrian Phillips, who was a significant signing when he joined the team in 2020. He played a prominent role in the secondary, particularly in his first two seasons. And then, his usage began to dwindle in 2022 and 2023 without much reasoning.
Phillips is still a good player and was expected to find another team fairly easily in free agency. That hasn't been the case, as he remains a free agent nearly two months after being released.
So maybe he will ultimately return to New England as a solid depth piece under Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers.
DT Lawrence Guy
With the defense remaining the more successful group on the team and the new regime's emphasis on putting together a young roster, Lawrence Guy's departure felt inevitable. He played with the Patriots for seven years and became a fixture on the defensive line.
His work as a run defender was consistently solid, and his presence alone kept them afloat for many years. So his release wasn't necessarily about a decline in performance, which makes it a little surprising that he remains unsigned.
It's more likely due to his age, as he is 34, and his stats don't jump off the sheet. However, at this stage in his career, he could serve as a good rotational piece on any defense that needs a proven defensive tackle and a guy who can mentor the next batch of defenders.
CB J.C. Jackson
It might not be surprising to some, but J.C. Jackson still looking for a team to play for in 2024 is wild to think about when you reflect on where he was in his career just two years ago.
He was the most highly sought after free agent cornerback of that class, with the Patriots looking like fools being unable to extend him with a long term contract. Jackson ultimately signed a monster deal with the Chargers, only to have a tumultuous tenure there before being traded back to the Patriots last season.
Expectations were high for his return, despite the struggles he showed in Los Angeles and unfortunately, he never looked like the player who once ruled New England's secondary.
His 2023 return didn't go as planned, and he ultimately ended the year on the sidelines. Reports have suggested that the Patriots are interested in bringing Jackson back this year, but there hasn't been any update regarding their plans to do so.