There was a whole lot going on early in that 2021 offseason.
Feb 25:
Governor Charlie Baker announces plans to reopen sporting events to fans in March
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson approaches Seattle for potential trade
Feb 26:
March 1:
Steve Balestrieri looks at a potential draft pick:
He has great power and explosiveness off the line and possesses a tremendous rip move when getting after the QB.
www.patsfans.com
March 2:
March 9:
Oakland trades OT
Trent Brown back to the Patriots
March 10:
CB Malcolm Butler released by Tennessee; rumors of return to New England
NFL salary cap decreases from 198.2m to 182.5m, putting several teams in a bind
Patriots receive 3rd, 4th & 5th round compensatory picks, for previous year's loss of Tom Brady, Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy
March 11:
Chiefs release both starting tackles, LT Eric Fisher and RT Mitchell Schwartz
March 12:
QB
Cam Newton re-signed to one-year, $5 million contract
CB
Justin Bethel re-signed to three-year, $6 million extension
March 14:
OT
Marcus Cannon, 5th & 6th round picks traded to Houston for a 4th and a 6th
Saints QB Drew Brees retires
March 15:
Former Titans TE
Jonnu Smith signs a four-year, $50 million contract with Pats, with $31m guaranteed
Former Dolphins NT
Davon Godchaux signs a two-year, $16 million contract with Pats, with $9m guaranteed
Former Ravens LB
Matt Judon signs a four-year, $56 million contract with Pats, with $32m guaranteed
Former Eagles DB
Jalen Mills signs a four-year, $24 million contract with Pats, with $9m guaranteed
Patriots G
Joe Thuney signs a five-year, $80 million contract with Chiefs, with $33m guaranteed
Patriots re-sign DL
Deatrich Wise to a four-year, $30 million contract, with $10m guaranteed
Former Eagles/Raiders WR
Nelson Agholor signs a two-year, $26 million contract, with $16m guaranteed
Former 49ers WR
Kendrick Bourne signs a three-year, $22.5 million contract, with $5.25m guaranteed
Former Jets DE
Henry Anderson signs a two-year, $7 million contract, with $3m guaranteed
One writer didn't care for the moves:
March 16:
Former Chargers TE
Hunter Henry signs a three-year, $37.5 million contract with Pats, with $25m guaranteed
98.5 flouts a rumor that with all these pass receiving options, the Pats will trade for either Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson
March 17:
Lots of back-and-forth between the Patriots and Dolphins
This is a lot to unravel. It is literally a matter of so much SO fast that it is probably going to take me a while to get it all down. This thread will be my therapeutic method to try and understand the strategy behind what was obviously a very thoughtful and designed plan to revamp a roster and make us INSTANTLY into a legitimate playoff contender. So here are some initial short takes.
a. Today's signings were PARTIALLY in response to a bad 5 year run of drafts. Get over it all you BB haters. this kind of drought happens to every program. It is the nature of the game. Everyone...
One-time Pats QB Jacoby Brissett, who had been rumored to be returning to New England, signs with Miami
Former Dolphins C
Ted Karras returns to Pats, signs a one-year, $4 million contract, with $1.1m guaranteed
Patriots place 2nd round tender on CB
J.C. Jackson
Patriots DT
Adam Butler signs a two-year, $9 million contract with Miami
Former Dolphins LB
Kyle Van Noy returns to Pats, signs a two-year, $12 million contract, with $6m guaranteed
March 18:
Patriots cut WR
Marqise Lee and DT
Beau Allen
S
Patrick Chung retires
Pats trade TE
Ryan Izzo to Houston for a 2022 7th round pick
Former Packers DT
Montravius Adams signs a one-year, $2.5 million contract, with $1.1m guaranteed
Pats re-sign K
Nick Folk to a one-year contract, with $1.225m guaranteed
Pats re-sign C
David Andrews to a four-year, $19 million contract, with $6.5m guaranteed
March 19:
Patriots re-sign S/ST
Cody Davis to a two-year, $4.2 million contract, with $1.1m guaranteed
Former Raiders LB
Raekwon McMillan signs a one-year, $1.15 million contract, with $250k guaranteed
March 20:
Lions WR
Kenny Golladay, whom the Patriots had reportedly been interested in, signs with the Giants
What do you think the Patriots will do?
I sort of expect something like trading down and selecting Landon ****erson (C from 'Bama). Taking Jones is way to obvious.....
March 23:
Patriots cut K
Justin Rohrwasser
March 24:
RB
James White re-signs
Pats sign LB
LaRoy Reynolds
DT
Lawrence Guy re-signs
March 26:
49ers trade up for #3 pick; rumors start circulating Pats will trade for Jimmy G
March 31:
NFL announces switch to a 17-game season; Pats extra game will be vs Dallas
Robert Kraft seems to passive-aggressively dis Bill Belichick and the free agent spending spree during a video press conference, while also (accurately) talking about poor results from recent drafts.
The Patriots Free Agent splurge has filled in a lot of the holes in the Patriots Offensive roster. This has re-shaped the roster and before we hit the draft (30 Days), we have addressed a lot of the team's needs.
www.patsfans.com
April 5:
Jets trade Sam Darnold to Carolina
April 7:
C
Dustin Woodward is re-instated onto the roster. This was the guy from Memphis who retired right after being drafted, and apparently now changed his mind again.
April 8:
Reports surface that Julian Edelman still has lingering knee issues after having undergone knee surgery the previous October.
April 12:
The Patriots release
Julian Edelman after a failed physical; he retires a few hours later.
So very much to unpack there.
The Patriots shocked the NFL by throwing big money at big names in free agency. Here's an inside look at how it played out and why they did it.
www.espn.com
Recent history suggests the Patriots will get a boost after finishing 7-9 in 2020, but the hard part will be sustaining success after splurging.
www.espn.com
