NFL Rumors: Patriots’ approach to adding wide receivers via free agency, trade
It is really no key: The New England Patriots need to have much more offensive weapons.
Extensive receiver is a main need for New England this offseason Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne ended up the only Patriots wideouts who topped 500 obtaining yards in 2021, as Nelson Agholor and N’Keal Harry underwhelmed in their roles.
Nearly all of the NFL’s top cost-free-agent huge receivers are off the marketplace, however, and functioning again/extensive receiver hybrid Ty Montgomery is the only ability player New England has additional in free company on a modest two-yr offer.
Perry: Opportunity trade targets at WR and CB for Patriots
So, what is Bill Belichick’s system? ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler supplied some insight Wednesday, reporting that the team “wasn’t relaxed overspending” for a receiver in totally free company and noting that Russell Gage’s a few-12 months, $30 million deal with Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers was way too prosperous for Belichick’s blood.
“New England exhausted all (large receiver) selections on the center and decreased tiers (in cost-free agency), and however nothing at all popped,” Fowler wrote.
The Patriots have just more than $10 million in cap house and have the versatility to produce extra and deliver in a significant-profile wideout. According to Fowler, nevertheless, a huge deal for a wideout could necessarily mean the staff loses 1 of the compensatory draft picks it can be set to land just after getting rid of cornerback J.C. Jackson and offensive lineman Ted Karras in cost-free company.
That philosophy implies New England is prioritizing draft cash above massive-name cost-free agents, a shift in ways from a 2021 offseason in which they used a document $163 million in guaranteed money on free agents.
But Fowler also noted the Patriots are expected to “comb the (trade) market place” for huge receiver possibilities. As our Phil Perry wrote Wednesday, the crew has a background of finding price on the trade industry at this time of year, and Perry floated New York Giants vast receiver Darius Slayton as a opportunity Patriots focus on.
Our Tom E. Curran also tabbed Seattle Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett as a possibility for New England, while Cleveland’s Jarvis Landry and former Patriot Brandin Cooks search like trade candidates as perfectly.
The Patriots have been rather frugal this offseason, so it would seem not likely they’d choose on a major deal at wide receiver regardless of their need at the placement. But there is at the very least some hope that the workforce could increase a further offensive weapon by means of the trade sector forward of April’s 2022 NFL Draft.