Now that the season is over, it’s time to look at the roster and specifically those players that are Free Agents.\u00a0 I will give my opinion on each player and whether or not they should be retained, allowed to retire, or play elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Ted Karras<\/strong> \u2013 Started at Left Guard once it was determined that Michael Owenu couldn\u2019t play Left Guard.\u00a0 Karras did a great job and solidified the Left Guard position.\u00a0 He also is a valuable backup at Center.\u00a0 Karras played on a one-year, show-me contract.\u00a0 He was originally signed when David Andrews was a Free Agent and the Patriots weren\u2019t sure he would come back.\u00a0 Karras played very well and he would be valuable retention if they could bring him back at another team-friendly contract.\u00a0 The Patriots don\u2019t have a lot of money to spend on Free Agents so it might take a while to re-sign him.\u00a0 Karras has let it be known he wants to come back.<\/p>\n Brian Hoyer<\/strong> \u2013 was originally cut from the final 53 man roster, at the roster deadline and signed as a Practice Squad backup.\u00a0\u00a0 His value was as a mentor to Mac Jones as well as a serviceable veteran backup.\u00a0 I don\u2019t see him being re-signed unless it\u2019s at a veteran minimum.<\/p>\n Brandon Bolden<\/strong> \u2013 His play during the season was exemplary.\u00a0 Many folks had him not making the team out of camp as his role was that of a core Special Teamer.\u00a0 Bolden stepped up and took over the role of James White as the third-down back.\u00a0 His ability to pick up the blitz was terrific.\u00a0 His skill to run the ball was badly underestimated.\u00a0 Next season he will be 32 entering his 10th<\/sup> season.\u00a0 When rushing the ball, he ran the ball 44 times for 226 yards, a 5.1 YPC, 1 TD, and 1 FUM.\u00a0 Receiving he had 41 catches on 49 attempts for 405 yards, 9.9 YPC, 2 TDs.\u00a0 As he has always been, Bolden was a core member of all 4 special team units.\u00a0 He should be retained at a vet minimum contract.\u00a0 \u00a0Bolden has let it be known through social media that he wants to come back.<\/p>\n James White<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0 White signed a one-year contract before a hip sub-laxation injury ruined his season.\u00a0 White had 12 catches on 14 targets for 94 yards, 7.8 in the 3 games he played.\u00a0 When healthy he is one of the best 3rd<\/sup> down backs in the league.\u00a0 If they can sign him to another one-year, show-me contract at vet minimum I think that would be a good investment.\u00a0 The Patriots have only 6 draft picks this year and drafting an RB is not a high priority, so retaining White and allowing him to continue his rehab might be the right thing to do.\u00a0 White will be 30 entering his 9th<\/sup> year in the league.<\/p>\n Trent Brown<\/strong> \u2013 The big man had another good year for the Pats once he actually got on the field.\u00a0\u00a0 The massive 6\u20198\u201d 380 lb tackle will be 29 entering his 8th<\/sup> season in the league.\u00a0 Brown missed 8 games of this season after injuring his calf early in the opening game.\u00a0 His loss at RT was a major contributor to the Patriots’ slow start.\u00a0 His contract this year was for $11M after the Patriots traded for him in the off-season.\u00a0 I don\u2019t see the Pats coming anywhere near that number for the big man.\u00a0 They can move Michael Owenu to RT, a move which they should have made immediately.\u00a0 They tried the Owenu experiment at LG way too long.\u00a0 I think they allow Brown to walk.\u00a0 If Brown signs elsewhere The Patriots would be in line to receive compensation.<\/p>\n JC Jackson<\/strong> \u2013 He is amongst the league\u2019s elite cornerbacks and is in line for a big payday.\u00a0 They would have to offer him a league topping contract if they want to sign him long-term.\u00a0 The Patriots don\u2019t have a history of signing their own Free Agents at the top of the market.\u00a0 It\u2019s more likely they apply the Franchise Tag to him.\u00a0 Will this piss off the elite CB?\u00a0 Jackson was 2nd<\/sup> in the league with 8 Interceptions, 1st team Pro Bowl and 2nd team All-Pro. \u00a0\u00a0Once Stephon Gilmore was traded, Jackson knew he would be receiving a big contract offer.\u00a0 This is a key signing for the Patriots in the off-season.<\/p>\n Carl Davis<\/strong> \u2013 When healthy he is a force on Defense.\u00a0 He is a true Nose Tackle and can be very disruptive.\u00a0 Davis had 19 tackles and a sack in 17 games this season.\u00a0 His job was to handle double team blocks and keep the LBs clean.\u00a0 He should be brought back at a vet minimum.\u00a0 That may be hard to accomplish and look for him to sign elsewhere.<\/p>\n Dont\u2019a Hightower<\/strong> \u2013 The veteran linebacker was a shell of himself. Especially down the stretch.\u00a0 He started slow, a product of his year off due to opting out.\u00a0 He played slow, missed tackles, and was generally ineffective.\u00a0 I expect Hightower to retire.\u00a0 I just don\u2019t think his heart was in it.\u00a0 If he doesn\u2019t retire I don\u2019t expect the Patriot to re-sign him.\u00a0 He will be 32 next season and is coming off a season in which he was 6th<\/sup> on the team in tackles with 64, far below his standard.<\/p>\n Ja\u2019Whaun Bentley<\/strong> \u2013 Led the team in tackles with 109 including 17 in the season finally versus the Dolphins.\u00a0 He went out early in the playoff loss to the Bills and it was very noticeable.\u00a0 Bentley has limited skills and is a liability when in pass coverage.\u00a0 Seeing him matched up against Dawson Knox was a total mismatch.\u00a0 Against the run, he is a beast.\u00a0 He dropped weight this season and that has helped, but he will never be a factor in pass coverage.\u00a0 Bentley will be 26 entering his 6th<\/sup> year. Given the age of the LB corps and his leadership skills, I think it is a priority to bring Bentley back.<\/p>\n Jamie Collins<\/strong> \u2013 He was signed after he was released by Cleveland.\u00a0 His one outstanding play was a spectacular Interception when he was 1st signed.\u00a0 He did nothing since then and was invisible in the playoff game.\u00a0 In 10 games he had only 20 tackles.\u00a0 Collins looked fat, slow, and out of shape.\u00a0\u00a0 He will turn 33 during the season and will be allowed to walk without an offer.<\/p>\n Harvey Langi <\/strong>\u2013 The linebacker made the team out of camp for the week one game.\u00a0\u00a0 In 7 games he had only 3 tackles.\u00a0 If he was to be re-signed, it would be a vet minimum and he would be a camp body.\u00a0 The Pats should let him walk.<\/p>\n Devin McCourty<\/strong> \u2013 This is the toughest decision the team and player have to make.\u00a0 The belief is that McCourty wants to play another season.\u00a0 McCourty was an ironman playing all 17 games and his 60 tackles were 7th<\/sup> on the team. Has he lost a step, yes without a doubt!\u00a0 Do the Patriots have a replacement for him on their roster?\u00a0 No!\u00a0 McCourty was overpaid in his last contract and finding a happy medium may be difficult.\u00a0 I think they will try and sign him but might not come to a financial agreement.\u00a0 This is one to watch.<\/p>\n Nick Folk<\/strong> \u2013 He has already indicated that he wants to play another season.\u00a0 He has been the most consistent kicker in the league and should have been the All-Pro selection.\u00a0 He hasn\u2019t missed an FG inside 50 yards since week one of the 2020 season.\u00a0 He also made three kicks of 53 yards this year.\u00a0 He nearly had a game-winner that clanked off the upright versus the Buccaneers on a 56-yard kick at the end of the game.\u00a0 Re-signing Folk will not break the bank and the Patriots should bring him back.<\/p>\n Matthew Slater<\/strong> \u2013 I love listening to Matthew Slater speak.\u00a0 He is so articulate and carefully and slowly chooses the words he is saying.\u00a0 He will make a great football coach should he decide that is what he wants to do. It\u2019s well known that Slater is a very religious man and may become a preacher when his days are done as a football player.\u00a0 Slater acknowledged at his post-game press conference that he is closer to the end of his career.\u00a0 He will sit down with his family to discuss his future but will not make a rash decision right after the crushing loss.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure that includes a discussion with Bill Belichick.\u00a0 His resume is very impressive with 3 Super Bowl rings, 2 1st<\/sup> Team All-Pro, 3 2nd<\/sup> Team All-Pro, 11 Pro-Bowl selections in his 14-year career.\u00a0 At the start of the next year, he will turn 37.\u00a0 I hope he comes back and I will be sad if he does not.\u00a0 We are lucky to have seen a player of his caliber on and off the field.\u00a0 I suspect he is a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame.\u00a0 \u00a0Slater when asked how he felt physically after the season, he responded that he feels really good and gave credit to the strength and conditioning coaches for making him feel like he was 32 rather than 36.<\/p>\n Brandon King<\/strong> \u2013 He is a Special Teams only player although he is listed as a linebacker.\u00a0 He did nothing this year and the team can do better with players they already have under contract.\u00a0 It\u2019s time to say good-bye to King.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Restricted Free Agents<\/strong><\/p>\n Jakub Johnson<\/strong> \u2013 Johnson has made himself into a punishing lead blocker.\u00a0 He came out of the International Player Pathway Program.\u00a0 He played collegiately at Tennessee and was awarded to the Patriots under the Pathway Program.\u00a0 He was signed as an Undrafted Free Agent in 2019 even though he could have stayed on the practice squad roster under the Pathway Program.\u00a0 The Patriots did this so they could recall him during the season.\u00a0 Should the Patriots give him an offer sheet? \u00a0\u00a0Yes but at what level?\u00a0 Because he was a UDFA, the Patriots would not receive any compensation should they not give him the 2nd<\/sup> round tender.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0I suspect they are going with a Right of First Refusal tender ($2.23M).\u00a0 The Pats would retain the ability to match any offer.\u00a0 Risky, but Johnson plays a position that not every team covets.\u00a0 Those that do already have Fullbacks.<\/p>\n Gunner Olzsewski<\/strong> \u2013 He is a reliable Punt Returner and made the 1st<\/sup> Team All-Pro in 2020.\u00a0 His numbers dropped off slightly this year.\u00a0 However, he did not develop as a Wide Receiver and the Patriots need someone to step up.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think they can afford to have a PR-only player on the team.\u00a0 I would not offer him a tender because I would be afraid he would sign it.\u00a0 If it were me I would let him try and find something else and see if they could match it.<\/p>\n Jakobi Meyers<\/strong> \u2013 Meyers is Mac Jones’s favorite receiver.\u00a0 For the season he made 83 reception (1st on the team) on 126 targets for 866 yards and 2 TDs.\u00a0 He deserves a 2nd<\/sup> round tender ($3.986M).\u00a0 Patriots retain the right to match an offer and if they don\u2019t, then the Pats would receive the signing team 2nd<\/sup> round pick in the upcoming draft.\u00a0 \u00a0The Patriots may try to sign him to a long term contract at a number below the 2nd round tender.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Now that the season is over, it’s time to look at the Patriots’ roster and specifically those players that are Free Agents.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":38646,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22766],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2022-patriots-offseason"],"yoast_head":"\n