{"id":45717,"date":"2023-03-19T05:00:43","date_gmt":"2023-03-19T09:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=45717"},"modified":"2023-03-18T21:08:25","modified_gmt":"2023-03-19T01:08:25","slug":"patriots-news-03-19-thoughts-on-early-patriots-team-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2023\/03\/19\/patriots-news-03-19-thoughts-on-early-patriots-team-building\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots News 03-19, Thoughts On Early Patriots Team Building"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning, and here are our Sunday Patriots news and notes. We hope everyone had a fun-filled and safe St. Patrick\u2019s Day. I think my favorite one was spent in a Tel Aviv Irish pub while working there with my partner Jack. Too much Tullamore Dew.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots have begun the \u201cearly\u201d team building, as there are still plenty of moves to come, including the NFL Draft, but thus far, the team has improved itself and more than made up for its losses. The most frequent refrain we hear is, \u201cis it enough?\u201d\u00a0 And the answer is No, it isn\u2019t. But we\u2019re still in mid-March, and rest assured, the team is far from done. More pieces will be added long before the games begin in six months.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll take a look at the moves they\u2019ve made and who they\u2019ve lost below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Scott Zolak: <\/b>The analyst on the team\u2019s games on the radio and former Patriot QB spoke on his morning talk show Friday after the announcement of the addition of Mike Gesicki about the team\u2019s plans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“I was told today, this is the first domino to fall, that there’s more to come,”<\/b> Zolak said. “So, I think this is where they’re starting to make their moves.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Zolak coyly avoided any particular names in relation to additions but the Patriots have been the subject of trade rumors so, they could sign a FA, make a trade or wait for the draft to add to the offense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas \u201cPatriots?\u201d <\/b>The Raiders, under Josh McDaniels, had taken some ex-Pats with him when he left to take over. In early free agency, he\u2019s added three more; QB Jimmy Garoppolo, WRs Jakobi Meyers, and Phillip Dorsett.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Raiders <\/span>posted a video<\/span><\/a> where the three reunited in the Raiders facility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jakobi Meyers: <\/b>The former Patriot WR signed a three-year deal with the Raiders but left a nice message for Patriots fans on his Instagram account, thanking them for the support they showed him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He also had an interesting reaction when the details of Juju Smith-Schuster\u2019s contract were released. \u00a0 And he didn\u2019t seem too pleased with the Patriots.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold world lol <\/span>https:\/\/t.co\/YtYqjrymUw<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jakobi Meyers (@jkbmyrs5) <\/span>March 15, 2023<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast:<\/b> If you haven\u2019t checked out our<\/span> PatsFans.com podcast,<\/span><\/a> \u201cPatriots 4th & 2\u201d, in a bit, please check it out. Russ and Derek were spot-on with their takes on early free agency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Russ Francis\/Chuck Fairbanks:<\/b> The former Patriot tight end and head coach both should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that especially Francis isn\u2019t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders\u2019 Dave Casper changed the game with how teams used the tight end position…this will be on our Sunday posts until it happens.<\/span><\/p>\n

Analysis On Free Agency (Thus Far)\u00a0 <\/b>\u2014<\/b><\/p>\n

The Patriots have made several moves in free agency and have brought back many of their own free agents. They are building their depth, but the additions have made them a better team than last season’s end.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So here are the moves so far in free agency:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additions:<\/b><\/p>\n

Calvin Anderson, OT (two years, $ TBD): <\/b>Anderson returns to where he began his NFL journey as a UDFA in 2019. In his three years in Denver, he\u2019s mostly been a backup but started seven games at left tackle last year. He could easily be the swing tackle this year or a spot starter if need be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Riley Reiff, OT (one year, $5 million):<\/b> Another offensive tackle; Reiff has been a starter for 149 games at both left and right tackle in his career. Last year he started 11 games for the Bears at right tackle. The 11-year vet projects to be the starting left tackle this season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Juju Smith-Schuster, WR (3 years, $33 million): <\/b>The former Chief and Steeler WR caught 78 passes for 933 yards for the Chiefs last year. He can operate from the slot or outside and has a knack for getting open by using his bigger body to box out defenders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where he is an obvious upgrade over Meyers is yards-after-catch (YAC). And that is a factor that has been sorely lacking with the Patriots’ WRs last year. I think Bill O\u2019Brien will find ways to scheme him and the other skill position players open in 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

James Robinson, RB (two years, $8 million): <\/b>The former Jaguar and Jet running back started his career well, showing his ability to run and catch. As a UDFA rookie in 2020, he rushed for 1,070 yards, catching 49 passes for a total of 10 TDs. His 2021 season was going just as well before he tore an Achilles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He struggled in 2022 from not being all the way back from his injury, but the Patriots expect him to be closer to his 2020 self this season. He can provide the offense a much-needed relief for starter Rhamondre Stevenson, who wore down at the end of last season after Damien Harris was injured. Robinson can also contribute in the passing game, and he\u2019s caught 91 passes in his three years in the league.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mike Gesicki, TE (one year, $9 million):<\/b> Gesicki is a guy that many Patriots fans and media thought would be a great fit for the offense. Now he comes here on a one-year deal. He has the tools to be an excellent red-zone target.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gesicki has excellent size at 6\u20196, 250 but isn\u2019t a great blocker despite that. However, the Dolphins used him in the slot or matched out wide. He\u2019s a very good linear mover who is a terrific red-zone target. In his four years in Miami, he\u2019s scored 18 TDs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bill O\u2019Brien had great success using \u201c12 personnel\u201d (2WRs, 2 TEs, 1 RB) here in 2011, and perhaps it is being overstated. However, pairing Gesicki with Hunter Henry in 12 personnel should be a big upgrade over the production of 2021. And a lot of that will have to do with Bill O\u2019Brien doing the coaching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bill Belichick has raved about Gesicki in the past.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s a hard guy to cover,\u201d Belichick said in December. \u201cLong. He\u2019s a good, crafty route-runner. He\u2019s slick. He can get down the field. Very good hands, can make some acrobatic catches, and has enough quickness to separate. He\u2019s another hard guy to cover on third down \u2014 well, on any down, but when you talk about those possession downs, he\u2019s effective.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Chris Board, LB\/STs (two years, $6.9 million):<\/b> Bill Belichick has always valued his STs units, and the past year must have weighed heavily on his mind after the team was truly awful in that department. Board was singled out for praise a year ago, when Belichick said, \u201cBoard, that\u2019s the best special teams player we\u2019ll play against all year. He\u2019s a great, great player.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Board would be a backup off-the-ball linebacker, where he has contributed in the past, but his value lies with STs. He will be a core 5-team STs contributor and should be an immediate difference-maker on a unit that needs some.<\/span><\/p>\n

Team Free Agents Resigned:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n