One of the first orders of business the Patriots decided to handle was re-signing their most important pending free agents. It was a wise choice, given how valuable most of them were to the team, and they are expected to be impactful for the 2024 season.
Among the long list of players set to hit the free agent market, a handful were easy to cross off as potential returns. But a few remain unsigned after the first two weeks of free agency frenzy, which is a bit surprising, to say the least.
These five are the most prominent of them all, and they are still hoping to find a new team for the upcoming season.
4 former Patriots who are still having trouble finding jobs
J.C. Jackson
One of the more expected roster cuts this offseason was cornerback J.C. Jackson, mainly due to his contract. He was a welcomed addition to the team via trade last year after Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones went down with season-ending injuries, but he wasn't able to live up to the type of player he was during his first stint with the team.
His brief time with the Chargers didn't go as planned, as he dealt with nagging injuries and struggled to adapt to their defensive scheme. So when Bill Belichick decided to trade for him, Jackson was excited about his return.
He was quickly thrown into his previous role and likely would have remained there once he got back up to speed with the Patriots' playbook. However, off-the-field issues tainted his return, and eventually, his season ended prematurely as he dealt with some personal issues.
Although reports have suggested the Patriots are interested in bringing him back, they are yet to do so. It's possible they will at some point, but Jackson remains a free agent and will probably stay that way until if or when New England re-signs him. They may at some point, but Jackson remains a free agent and will probably stay that way until m.
It's a disappointing fall from where he was just two years ago when he was considered one of the best cornerbacks in the league, prompting his massive contract with the Chargers.
4 former Patriots who are still having trouble finding jobs
Ezekiel Elliott
As one of the more recently universally agreed upon free agent signings amongst Patriots fans, Ezekiel Elliott's arrival was exciting, with the thought of him and Rhamondre Stevenson making up the best backfield in the league.
The former Cowboy was coming off what most considered a "down season" in Dallas due to Tony Pollard's rise, but he was still incredibly productive and expected to bring that to New England. His experience in the passing game was probably the most intriguing part of his addition to the offense, as Stevenson was still figuring that out and could use some help on game day.
Although Elliott's performance in 2023 didn't blow the doors down, he became much more valuable once Stevenson was injured. He then became Bailey Zappe's primary backfield target and would have likely been more productive had the offense been even slightly better than it was.
Perhaps his unexciting year with the Patriots has hindered teams' pursuit of him in free agency, along with the long list of other running backs available this year. He could also be trying to skip most of the offseason training activities that teams mandate, similar to what he did last year before signing with the Patriots.
Elliott remains unsigned as we enter the third week of the new league year, but rumors have suggested he could triumphantly return to Dallas, which didn't re-sign Pollard this offseason.
4 former Patriots who are still having trouble finding jobs
Myles Bryant
The young and versatile cornerback that most Patriots fans seem to have an opinion of remains a free agent after two weeks of frenzy. Because he was never a starter in New England, it wasn't shocking that Myles Bryant was one of the early releases before the official free agency began.
Because of that, it's also not surprising that other teams haven't been knocking on the door to sign him.
But despite that, he's proven he can be a valuable depth piece for any secondary. He had one of the best seasons of his career in 2023, even though he was on the field a lot more than he ever had been.
That makes him an enticing possible return to New England if the new regime felt his value made sense, and it seems like that may be his only way of ensuring he's on the field next season.
Because he would be a cheaper yet trustworthy signing, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the Patriots to extend an offer, which Bryant would likely be more inclined to sign due to the lack of interest from other teams.
4 former Patriots who are still having trouble finding jobs
Lawrence Guy
As one of the more seasoned veterans remaining on the team, Lawrence Guy's departure was expected due to his age and the new regime's emphasis on developing younger players.
The defensive tackle had also had a rocky tenure with the Patriots during the last few seasons, mainly over contract disputes, and that may have been an issue this offseason as well.
Despite his age and a slight decline in production, Guy was a leading force in the run defense, which has been a consistently weak area on the team. He became a prominent part of the defensive line in recent years because of it, and it will be hard to replace him in the season ahead.
Because that is not often an incredibly valued trait, Guy remains unsigned and his options are starting to dwindle. Surely, his age has something to do with his difficulty in finding a new team, but if there is a need for a solid, versatile run defender, they should get him on the phone.