Patriots Offseason Moves Breakdown

The New England Patriots had a very active offseason. With over 20 new players joining the Patriots roster, this team will look a lot different than last year. The Patriots took advantage of the cap room they had this offseason and brought in some of the league’s best free agents.

Notable Players Acquired by Free Agency/Trades:

Nelson Agholor:

Nelson Agholor had a career year with the Raiders in 2020. Agholor had 896 yards receiving, 8 receiving touchdowns and 48 catches on the year. What was most impressive about Agholor’s season was his 18.7 yards per catch, which ranked 2nd overall in the NFL in 2020. Agholor’s contract with the Patriots is $22 million over 2 years, with $16 million guaranteed. Agholor will most likely be the Patriots’ number one outsider pass catcher in the 2021 NFL season, with both Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith getting a majority of the targets in the middle of the field. The question is, will Agholor be able to keep up his 2020 production in a bigger role with the Patriots?

Trent Brown:

Trent Brown returns to the Patriots after two years with the Raiders. Brown will add some more security to the outside of the offensive line. Brown has experience at both right and left tackle and I predict will start on the right side of the line with right tackle, Isaiah Wynn. Bringing in Brown gives the Patriots one of the best offensive lines in the league.

Hunter Henry:

Hunter Henry is widely considered to be one of the most talented tight ends in the league. Henry’s issue is staying on the field. In his 5 years with the Chargers, over 55 games, he had 196 catches, 2322 receiving yards and 21 receiving touchdowns. He lost his 2018 season due to a torn ACL. The first question with Henry is, will he be able to blossom into the tight end that he has the potential to be? New England has always been a great place to be a tight end, being the former home for future hall of famer Rob Gronkowski. The second question is, how will he fit next to the Patriots other free agent, tight end Jonnu Smith? 

Matthew Judon:

In five years with the Ravens, Judon has started 49 games, recorded 34.5 sacks, 54 tackles for loss and 236 total tackles. Judon signed a $54.5-million-dollar contract with the Patriots over 4 years, with $43 million dollars guaranteed. Judon was a solid pass rusher in his time in Baltimore, but the question is if he is worth $50+ million dollars? The Patriots will look to use him as their number 1 pass rusher.

Jonnu Smith:

The Patriots signing of Jonnu Smith means that they will look to return to running the two tight end system. Smith had a career year in 2020, with 41 receptions, 448 receiving yards and 8 touchdown catches. While Hunter Henry may be the more fundamentally strong tight end, Smith’s athleticism outclasses Henry. The Patriots will hope to use Smith and Henry as a dynamic tight end duo to confuse and abuse opposing defenses. Smith’s contract with the Patriots is $50 million over 4 years, with $31 million guaranteed.

Other player signings:

Notable players acquired via draft:

Mac Jones:

The Patriots made a splash in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft by taking Alabama quarterback Mac Jones. Jones will try to fill the big shoes the Patriots legend Tom Brady left behind after the 2019 NFL season. In Jones’ last season at Alabama, he passed for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns to 4 interceptions, and a 77.4 completion percentage. Jones seems to be more a fit for the Patriots than last season’s starter, Cam Newton. The Patriots will have to figure out how long they want Jones to sit on the bench before promoting him to starting Quarterback. 

Full Draft:

Notable Players Resigned:

David Andrews:

After opting out of the 2020 NFL season, Andrew is a welcome addition back to the Patriots’ o-line. Andrews signed a $19 million contract with the Patriots that is over 4 years; $6.5 million is guaranteed. With so little money guaranteed, the Patriots will look to see if Andrews can return to form before committing him as their long-term center.

Cam Newton:

After an up and down first season with the Patriots, Newton will return to Foxborough for a second season. In Newton’s first season with the Patriots, he passed for 2657 yards, 8 touchdowns to 10 interceptions and a completion percentage of 65.8. This was by far Newton’s worst season in the NFL and the Patriots don’t seem to have too much confidence in him. By selecting Mac Jones in the first round, Newton’s time as the Patriots’ starting QB is most likely close to over. Newton’s goal for this season will most likely be to prove that he is still a starting level quarterback and deserves to be in the NFL past the 2021 season.

J.C. Jackson:

J.C. Jackson was the Patriots breakout player in the 2020 season. Jackson was second in the NFL in interceptions with 9, only behind Dolphins 2020 all-pro corner Xavien Howards. The Patriots placed a second-round tender on Jackson this offseason. A second-round tender means another team would have to send a 2nd round pick to the Patriots if they signed Jackson, and before that, the Patriots would have the opportunity to match that contract to retain Jackson. The question the Patriots will have to figure out before the end of the season is, are they willing to sign Jackson to an expensive long-term deal.

Other players resigned:

Notable players lost via trade and free agency:

Joe Thuney:

The Patriots only major loss of this offseason is guard Joe Thuney. In Thuney’s five years in Foxboro, he started every game he played in and never missed a game due to injury. Thuney was second team all pro in 2019, proving that he is one of the best guards in the league. The Patriots gave Thuney the Franchise Tag after the 2019 season and never reached a long-term extension with him. The Kansas City Chiefs were able to sign Thuney to a massive 80-million-dollar contract over 5 years, with $50 million guaranteed. The Patriots will hope that second year o-lineman Michael Onwenu will be able to set up into a full-time starting role after a good 2020 season.

Other players no longer with the Patriots

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