Patriots News 3-17, Free Agency, The Dynasty, Mock Draft 1.0
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Posted Under: Patriots Commentary
🕑 Read Time: 9 minutes
New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
Good morning and a happy St. Patrick’s Day; here are your Patriots news and notes for March 17. For the first time in a very long time, the Patriots are feeling what it is like to have free agents not want to come to New England despite offering comparable cash. More below.
The docuseries The Dynasty has concluded, and it was almost exhausting. However, a few things stood out among the final two episodes worth pondering.
No one ever definitely answers why Malcolm Butler didn’t play in the Super Bowl against Philadelphia. Butler claims that he still doesn’t know. Perhaps we’ll never know. Kraft claimed he’d heard it was a personal issue between Belichick and Butler.
Judging how Bill Belichick was presented, especially how Robert Kraft spoke about him, it certainly seems that he was a lame duck in 2023. Much was discussed about how the Brady-Belichick relationship deteriorated to the point where the two barely spoke during the final season.
Wes Welker compared Brady to a whipped dog that kept coming back for more. Brady said he was fed up with the way Belichick was treating him. Brady knew that Belichick’s reasoning behind this was that it was his way of showing that everyone on the team was accountable. But that schtick grew old for Brady. Although I may have missed this, but did Brady ever approach Belichick and speak to him directly about this?
Kraft mentioned that Brady and Giselle went to Kraft’s house to speak with him about the situation, but it was unclear if he and Belichick ever spoke directly. In 2018, Brady asked Matthew Slater to approach Belichick about certain matters, but Slater refused.
The difference between the players from the first three Super Bowls and the last three stand in stark difference in their attitudes concerning Belichick. The players from the early era of the dynasty talk glowingly about Belichick. But the players from the final three SB-winning teams (Danny Amendola, Gronk, and even Matthew Slater) sing a very different tune.
It is an intriguing situation, so what changed?
For a docuseries that spent an inordinate amount of time dwelling on the negative, Episode 10 was arguably the best since #2. It was interesting how they finally put the era to bed. An emotional Brady spoke about his time as a Patriot.
“I’m very proud of our journey,” he said. “It was hard, but it was great”
Scott Pioli put a great stamp on things with his comments on the ridiculous, inane question of “whether it was Brady or Bill?”
“I look at all the success,” Pioli said. “And I hear, was it Bill, was it Tom? And it is disrespectful. It is disrespectful to every player that helped win a championship for the Patriots.
Ernie Adams was fantastic, I would love to see more of him in the future. Nancy Brady, Tom’s older sister was great as well, filling in the viewers from a family perspective.
But in the last frame, the producers added that Kraft and Belichick finally split after 24 years. What they should have said was, “In their 24 years together, Kraft and Belichick shared in the appearance of nine Super Bowls, winning six, had a 21-game unbeaten streak, 19 consecutive winning seasons, 17 division titles, had an eight-year streak of at least 12 wins, and had a record of 296-133 including the playoffs.
Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:
Jacoby Brissett: Eight years later, Brissett has come full-circle and returned to the team that drafted him. “I got drafted here eight years ago. To walk around the building and see a lot of things that look familiar, I’m excited to be back.”
“(It’s) definitely a different role,” Brissett said earlier this week. “I think I was 22 or 23 when I was here before. I’m 31 now. I’m excited for a good opportunity. Ready to get this thing going.”
Justin Fields: The Steelers are trading for former Bears quarterback Justin Fields. The Steelers are sending Chicago a 6th-round draft pick that could turn out to be a 4th-round pick, depending on playing time. That is a far cry from what was being portrayed just a few weeks ago.
Fields will now compete with Russell Wilson for the starting role in the offense. Mason Rudolph left via free agency, and Kenny Pickett was traded, so Pittsburgh is starting fresh with its quarterback room.
Aaron Donald: The Rams’ great DT has announced his retirement from the NFL. He is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and has had a great career. But this recency bias is out of control. Every team or player that wins a championship is already put on a pedestal and put forth as “Is _____ the best ever?” There have been posts already touting Donald as such. Time is the ultimate judge. Many who post these social media declarations have only been around to see the player they tout.
Donald was exceptional and a tremendous player. But Lawrence Taylor changed the game and was on a different plane than everyone else.
Mike Vrabel: Former Titans’ head coach has joined the Cleveland Browns as a player and coaching consultant. Hmm, if I were HC Kevin Stafanski and GM Andrew Berry, I’d better be hoping to have a good year or be looking over my shoulder as their replacement could already be in the building.
Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast: Last week, we discussed the latest news from Foxboro in our PatsFans.com podcast.
Derek Havens and I discussed the early moments of Free Agency, the upcoming draft, and The Dynasty series. Please check it out. This week, we’ll start reviewing some of the draft’s prospects.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t in is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed the game with how teams used the tight end position. This will be discussed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
Area 51 News: Free Agency Comes To A Screeching Halt —
The Patriots completed their first goal of free agency in that they identified the key players that would be the cornerstone for the franchise and tried to retain them. That was successful. But they were unsuccessful at landing their WR FA target, Calvin Ridley.
Reportedly, the Patriots made a very competitive offer, but Ridley, who said he wanted to remain in Jacksonville, opted to go to the Tennessee Titans for a four-year, $92 million dollar contract, with $50 million fully guaranteed. It was a disappointment for many in New England, including here.
But it takes two to tango, and New England is no longer a favored destination. With the Patriots last year at 4-13, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady gone, and a new regime with a rookie head coach and no franchise quarterback in place, it will be hard to attract Top-Tier talent without overpaying. But it is a slippery slope because they don’t want to be saddled with bloated contracts down the road just because they have a lot of cash to spend.
They need a QB, a WR, and a LT. With many of the premier players gone, it may be time to overpay one or two of the guys left (WR/OT) on a one-year deal.
According to our local salary cap guru and good friend Miguel Benzan, aka @Patscap, the Patriots’ salary cap is currently at $51,663,475.
Minnesota has made a trade to pick up their second first-round draft pick. They now have picks #11 and #23 in the upcoming draft. The rumor is that they’re going to offer them to the Patriots with a 2025 pick, supposedly another early-round selection to move up to the Patriots’ #3 pick. I doubt that would be another first-round pick, but crazier things have happened.
However, a trade to Washington for #2 could also be made. For a rebuilding team like New England, with so many holes on the roster, it would just increase the ability to fill more of their holes with first-round talent. It would certainly be an enticing proposal. Would the Patriots opt for a scenario like this?
With the trade of Justin Fields, Chicago will definitely use the #1 pick on a QB, and Caleb Williams has been widely mocked there all year. So, with Washington seemingly leaning toward Jayden Daniels, that would leave the Patriots/Vikings with Drake Maye, whom I’ve been hoping for since the fall. Which is probably jinxing the entire thing…right?
If I were making the decision for the Patriots, I would stand pat at #3 and take Maye or Daniels, hopefully, to be the next franchise QB. With Jacoby Brissett in place, there would be no need to rush the rookie before he’s completely ready and not a minute before. The only way I wouldn’t stand pat at #3 is because I’d have serious concerns about either Maye or Daniels being “the guy” soon.
Franchise quarterbacks don’t fall into your lap very often. With three very talented quarterbacks at the top of the draft, they need to strike while the iron is hot. The quarterback position is the most critical in the game, and having a top quarterback is imperative if you intend to compete for a championship.
I’m sure they’ve done their homework on several quarterbacks. So, getting this one right is imperative. Otherwise, it will set your rebuild back several years. As we all know, drafts are an inexact science. But if they believe in the guy, then they have to take a shot. If they’re wrong later, at least they swung for the fence.
That’s why this is so intriguing: Eliot Wolf and the scouting department are either all in or out on one of these young guys. We’ll know their decision soon. So, what would the draft look like if they did take an offer from Minnesota?
Here is my Mock Draft 1.0, if they get an offer and accept it from the Vikings.
McCarthy at #11 could be either a reach or a great pick, but he is a sound decision-maker who has a cannon for an arm, distributes the ball well, and knows how to take care of the football. McCarthy can scramble and make plays on the move. But because of the ground-and-pound running game at Michigan, didn’t get the opportunity to put up great stats. He’ll sit and learn from Jacoby Brissett until he’s ready to go.
Fautanu at #23 is a bit of a risk. He was a starter at left tackle at Washington, but many believe at 6’4, 317, he may kick inside to guard in the NFL. I think he can handle it. He’s a tough, physical player who is a dominant run blocker with the speed to get downfield. His impressive athleticism allows him to handle both speed and power rushers.
Coleman, at #34, is the replacement for DeVante Parker. Coleman is a big target at 6’4, 215. He is a contested catch guy with excellent leaping ability and will upgrade the offense as a red-zone target. He had 11 TDs in 2023.
Cade Stover at #68 is a big, physical tight end who is a converted DE. It shows through with love to get in the trenches to battle in the running game. He has good hands and good athleticism. He can attack the seams and make YAC on short routes.
Carson, at #103, is a big cornerback at 6’1, 195. He’s very physical and can be grabby at times, but he has plenty of experience (36 games) for the Demon Deacons. He has solid speed but needs to work on his technique and footwork.
Wilson, at pick #137, is a very intriguing player. He’s enormous at 6’6, 237, and has the ability to box out defenders at the catch point physically. He possesses very good body control and has a huge catch radius. He’s another big red-zone target who can create mismatches.
With the 167th pick, Dylan Laube is a running back from UNH. He’s not the biggest back at 5’10, 208, but he is a good change of pace back who is most valuable as a third-down back. He’s good in pass protection and has very good short-area quickness and sticky hands in the passing game. He’ll create mismatches against opposing LBs in the passing game with excellent YAC.
Vaki, with the 180th pick, is a safety from Utah who is a physically strong player with heavy hands who will probably be destined for STs. He is a good, strong tackler but is a liability in man coverage.
With pick #193, McGlothern is a long cornerback at 6’2, 188. At Arkansas, he was a good man coverage corner but had a tendency to gamble a lot, which could make him susceptible to double moves at the next level. He has good straight-line speed with good hands and strong ball skills. He isn’t physical enough in run support.
With the final pick at #231, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint was a reliable target at Georgia. He has good size at 6’1, 195. He played outside as the “X” WR for the Bulldogs as well as some work in the slot. He’s not quick, but he has good speed and is physical enough to beat press coverage. He has excellent hands and is another good contested catch target.
In this scenario, the Patriots have an extra first-round pick in 2025. You’ll notice that all three WRs are big, physically contested catch guys. They have smaller, quick guys like Demario Douglas and speedier guys like Tyquan Thornton and Kendrick Bourne, and they let the other guys work themselves into some playing time on the offense.
Weekly Picks… See You in September:
2023 Season 178—94
2022 Season: 178—92—2
2021 Season: 183—88—1
2020 Season: 169—86—1
2019 Season: 162—93—1
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Robert Kraft: “Tommy and I, we had a conversation and he said it was his intention to stay. But we would have to make concessions, including getting Alex Guerrero back in the fold…Bill was pissed. Allowing Alex Guerrero back (after his sideline and team plane privileges were revoked the previous year) …it was the one time through 20 years I really have stepped in and got involved.”
Bill Belichick: “For a head coach, all the relationships are very important. Starts at the top with ownership. They can derail some positive and constructive progress if those things don’t work out well.”
Kraft: “Bill felt this was really a questioning of his authority and ability to govern. But I had the greatest player and the greatest coach. I was gonna do whatever I gotta do to keep it patched together and make it happen.”
Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick on the decision in 2018 to allow Alex Guerrero back into the building at Tom Brady’s insistence, or else he wouldn’t return. There were hard feelings there, and afterward, Brady and Belichick barely spoke. Belichick’s quote was… taking a veiled shot at Kraft for meddling.
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“Talent sets the floor; Character sets the ceiling.” Bill Belichick
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our Patriots 4th and 2 podcasts on Apple and YouTube as Russ Goldman, Derek Havens, and myself from PatsFans.com discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis.
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Hi Steve, Assuming we did get McCarthy at 11 (current drafts have him gone by then) I look at trading back as Maye vs McCarthy & Fautanu and a first next year and that sounds pretty good….unless Maye is a franchise QB. It’s a popsicle headache even knowing what I want! Glad I’m not Eliot Wolf.