Defense
Defensive line:
Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Alan Branch, Malcom Brown, Jabaal Sheard, Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, Geneo Grissom, Trey Flowers (IR), Dominique Easley (IR), Chris Jones (IR), Joe Vellano
Free agents: Akiem Hicks (UFA), Sealver Siliga (RFA), Rufus Johnson (ERFA/IR)
The defensive line was a strength of the team all season and they are in good shape moving forward, especially with the return of Easley, Flowers and Jones form IR.
They will probably make every effort to bring back Hicks who rejuvenated his career with the Patriots after coming over from the Saints. Siliga and Johnson will return as well as they provide good depth and camp competition.
Don’t expect the Patriots to move forward with any contract extension with Jones. They’ll take a wait-n-see attitude with him as he’ll command top dollar on the market. With Sheard, Ninkovich, Flowers and Grissom, they’re deep enough to withstand the loss of him if he’s off next season. Could they dangle him as trade bait at the NFL Draft? With not a definite, it could be an option.
Linebackers:
Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower, Jon Bostic, Jonathan Freeny, Kevin Snyder, Darius Fleming, Jerod Mayo (IR), Eric Martin (IR)
Free agents: Dekoda Watson (UFA), Dane Fletcher (UFA)
Mayo has been injured the past three seasons and has a $11 million-dollar cap hit in 2016. There’s no way the Patriots are paying him that this upcoming season. He’ll have to restructure or be cut loose.
Both Watson and Fletcher can be easily brought back this spring although the former is a bit of a longer shot than the latter. Freeny was a surprise this season, thought of as a ST’s player mainly, he played more defense than expected. Bostic was the surprise as he played little after coming over from Chicago.
Secondary:
Devin McCourty, Malcolm Butler, Patrick Chung, Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon, Leonard Johnson, Jordan Richards, Darryl Roberts (IR)
Free agents: Nate Ebner (UFA), Justin Coleman (ERFA), Tarell Brown (UFA/IR), Tavon Wilson (UFA), Brandon King (ERFA)
The secondary is in much better shape than they seemed a year ago after jettisoning three starters. Butler (due for a pay increase), and Ryan were a much better combination 1-2 at corner than anyone envisioned. With the unheralded but impressive Roberts from last summer returning, they should be in good shape. He should press for playing time next year.
Ebner, Coleman and King should all return. I would expect them to let Wilson and Brown walk via free agency. Ebner and King were key STs players and Coleman performed well as the third cornerback.
Special Teams:
K Stephen Gostkowski, P Ryan Allen, Matthew Slater (Gunner), LS Joe Cardona
Free agents: none
The Patriots ST’s are set for 2016; Gostkowski got a nice new deal last year and with Ryan and Cardona locked up, although the latter will spend the offseason with the Navy honoring his service commitment they’re in good shape.
Slater is a Pro-Bowl ST’s stalwart and the team probably won’t bring in camp competition for any of the big four there.
Look for our free agent profiles soon, we’ll give an individual look at each player and reasons why he may or may not return. Be sure to check out our up-dated stats data base and some interesting great fan interactions coming on our PatsFans.com web site. The site is constantly evolving and for us there is no off-season.
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A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
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