4 overrated remaining free agents the Patriots should avoid
By Rhys Knott
Famous sandwich inventor and Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins is credited with the phrase "The most important ability is availability." And, as usual, he hit the nail on the head.
If you're going to invest money in a football player, you expect them to earn it on the field. If they aren't healthy enough to take the field, you're just throwing money away.
There are still 363 free agents looking for a contract, but there are some the Patriots should actively avoid.
4 overrated remaining free agents the Patriots should avoid
Michael Thomas
In his first four seasons in the league, Thomas amassed 5,512 receiving yards and scored 32 touchdowns. If he’d continued on that trajectory, he would have been the most sought-after player in this free-agent class. But in his last four seasons, he’s only managed 1,057 yards and four touchdowns.
He suffered a high ankle sprain in December 2020, and he’s not been the same since. Thomas initially missed the last three games of the 2020 season, but after a setback in his rehab, the injury resulted in him missing the entire 2021 season!
He only started ten games in the last two seasons and caught 55 of his 86 targets. Thomas found himself on IR in November last year with a sprained knee. As if his battle to stay healthy wasn’t reason enough to avoid him, he then took to social media to blame Derek Carr for ending his season.
Nobody needs a diva receiver who always gets injured more often than he catches passes. And nobody knows if he’ll be able to play again.