Well, it’s been very uninspiring so far. Jerod Mayo said the team had money and that they would spend it. But he’s only spent around $35 million of the reported $83 million available. And, as it stands, they head into 2024 with a starting quarterback who has only started 16 games in the last four seasons.
Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Welcome to the NFL’s version of insanity.
6 things we’ve learned about the Patriots so far in the legal tampering period
1. They’re bringing their buddies back
Just like Dont’a Hightower returning to New England after three years away as a member of the coaching staff, the Patriots have returned four players from the 2023 playing roster: one offensive lineman, two linebackers, and a kick returner. At least, we hope Jalen Reagor is a kick returner.
He flashed some talent in 2023, but the former first-round pick has never caught more than 33 passes in a season and has a 53.7% career catch rate. He’s only on a one-year $1.3 million deal, but there are better receivers in the draft—lots of them.
Michael Onwenu is back on a frankly obscene deal that, thankfully, has an out in two years.
And if you’re old (like me), you’ll remember Jacoby Brissett’s first go-round with the Patriots. It was eight years ago! And it only lasted two starts. But he’s back, and unless something drastic happens, he’s the day-one starter. Uninspiring, eh?
And Kendrick Bourne is back. You have to wonder if he would have re-signed if they had told him they were going to re-sign a 31-year-old backup as a starter.
2. They’re happy with the receiving corps
They had to release DeVante Parker because nobody wanted to trade for him. That’s understandable, seeing as he is 31 years old now. Last year, he only managed 394 receiving yards on 33 catches.
But they haven’t signed a replacement or any new receivers. They may be waiting to hoover up some of the plethora of rookie talent in the draft. They also haven't traded JuJu Smith-Schuster, and that was heavily rumored to be on the cards. Maybe they'll actually use him to do what he's good at in 2024: run block.
3. They’re going to line up in 12 personnel a lot
Austin Hooper is a better tight end than Mike Gesicki. But Gesicki is really just a tall pass catcher; it’s insane that he doesn’t just line up in the slot. Hooper can block, and alongside Hunter Henry, he should form the basis of an offense that lines up to run and occasionally passes. So that’ll be entertaining. Actually, it won’t.
4. Mike Onwenu is going to play at guard
One of the problems with the Patriots' offensive line in 2023 was that they had two guys over 350 lbs trying to defend on the edge against dynamic pass rushers. Another issue was that Bill O’Brien felt that calling screen passes repeatedly (and again and again) would help his quarterbacks.
But screen passes require blockers to get out in front of the pass catcher, with one tackle weighing 350 lbs and another 370 lbs.
They couldn’t consistently leak out to the next level and block linebackers or safeties, so screen passes rarely worked. That didn’t stop old Billy Boy from calling them, though.
The best tackles in the league, like Lane Johnson and Terron Armstead, weigh under 330 lbs. New Patriots tackle Chukwuma Okorafor weighs 320 lbs. Hopefully, Onwenu will settle into the interior of the offensive line, and they’ll draft another more mobile right tackle.
5. They haven’t really learned anything from last season
Allowing Belichick to stay on as a lame duck when the Krafts had decided to move on after the loss to the Colts in Germany was a mistake. Taking the conservative option and choosing to promote the guy Tom Brady once called Jerrod Belichick instead of shaking up an organization that needed shaking up just compounds the first mistake with another mistake.
It’s like the Kraft family is desperate to be liked, so they have taken safe option after safe option. The problem is that if the team doesn’t start winning, it will be even more unpopular.
Mainly, keeping the player staff the same is going to bring essentially the same results. It’s the catch-22 of all catch-22s. They need to make a bold decision sooner or later. And if it’s later, the bold decision will be firing their friend Jerrod Mayo. But hopefully, they will shock the world and do something outrageous at the draft.
6. And Josh Uche hates money
According to reports, he was offered a two-year deal worth $11 million guaranteed that could have risen to $15 million. But he decided to stay in New England for $3 million instead. Just let that sink in. Foxborough is the biggest comfort zone in the NFL.