{"id":58837,"date":"2025-03-16T08:00:09","date_gmt":"2025-03-16T12:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=58837"},"modified":"2025-03-15T22:10:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-16T02:10:02","slug":"morse-patriots-have-work-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2025\/03\/16\/morse-patriots-have-work-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"MORSE: Patriots Have Work to Do"},"content":{"rendered":"

Filling the Remaining Holes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Free Agency cannot fill all the holes this team has.\u00a0 Eliot Wolf, Ryan Cowden and Mike Vrabel have done a good job upgrading the Defense with Vrabel kind of guys and leaders.\u00a0 However, they have swung and missed on Offense.\u00a0 They offered Center Drew Dalman a high salary, but he chose Chicago.\u00a0 Chris Godwin\u2019s offer was $8M more than what he signed for to stay in Tampa Bay.\u00a0 Tackle Jaylon Moore was offered a contract by the Patriots\u2019, but he chose to play for Kansas City and a chance to win a Championship.\u00a0 Albert Breer reported Kansas City offered Ronnie Stanley 20+M a year and Washington and New England offered him 24+M.\u00a0 All three offers were before the legal tampering period and the league is looking into this potential violation.\u00a0 Stanley re-signed with Baltimore for $20M before Free Agency started.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not like they haven\u2019t been trying.\u00a0 Mike Vrabel can attract some defensive players, but it doesn\u2019t seem like he has the same cache with Offensive players.\u00a0 They did sign 34-yo RT Morgan Moses and soon to be 32-yo WR Mack Hollins.<\/p>\n

The Patriots also released longtime Captain David Andrews on Thursday creating another area of need.<\/p>\n

Priority of Needs<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Left Tackle \u2013 <\/strong>Cam Robinson is still available and that\u2019s for good reason.\u00a0 His agent saw what a ridiculous contract Dan Moore got (4 years $20.5 M\/year) and is asking for the moon.\u00a0 He has offers but they have been for much less.\u00a0 OL Coach Doug Marrone knows Robinson well because he drafted him when Marrone was Head Coach of Jacksonville.\u00a0 Robinson has a reputation as a dog and teams, including the Patriots are afraid that Robinson will just take the money and revert to his lazy self.\u00a0 It is believed that Robinson has been offered a 1 year show me contract that is heavily incentive laden.\u00a0 Tyron Smith the ancient 35-year-old is available, but he hasn\u2019t played a full season since 2019.<\/p>\n

Otherwise, the Patriots will stick with Vederian Lowe.\u00a0 You have to remember that Lowe is entering his 4th<\/sup> season.\u00a0 He played just 33 snaps in his rookie year, 407 in 2023 for the Patriots and 804 last season.\u00a0 His numbers were better than Robinson and didn\u2019t give up as many sacks or pressures.\u00a0 They both had 13 penalties.\u00a0 I wonder what Lowe would be like with a better LG?\u00a0 This season is the 3rd<\/sup> different (and best) Offensive Line coach he has had since he was traded to the Patriots.<\/p>\n

Jedrick Wills was the #1 (10 overall) number selection of Cleveland in 2020 out of Alabama.\u00a0 He looks every bit of the part of a Tackle but he has struggled.\u00a0 He is only 26 and stands 6\u20194\u201d, 307-pounds.\u00a0 Maybe a change of scenery and some new coaches can help him.\u00a0 Another possibility is to move him inside to Guard.\u00a0 Mike Vrabel worked with the Cleveland Offensive line as a consultant last season.\u00a0 He would know the good or bad about Wills.\u00a0 Perhaps he waiting for a crazy offer like what Dan Moore received.\u00a0 Wills PFF Rating was 52.9 good for 109th<\/sup>.\u00a0 Vederian Lowe was 102nd<\/sup>.\u00a0 Wills played just 5 games last season for the Browns.\u00a0 The one season (2022) he played in all the games (1,152 snaps) he had a 62.9 rating.<\/p>\n

D.J. Humphries would be a bridge option since the Patriots are likely to draft a Left Tackle.\u00a0 Humphries isn\u2019t a long-term answer, but he could provide solid play for a year while a rookie develops.\u00a0 He is coming off an injury and could be signed at a discount, making him an affordable stopgap starter while still allowing flexibility for a draft pick to take over later. He wasn’t great in limited snaps last season, but he was fresh off a major injury. Before 2024, Humphries was a very reliable veteran tackle, and he would give the Patriots another solid locker room fit.<\/p>\n

\"Tee<\/p>\n
(PHOTO: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Wide Receiver <\/strong>They are looking for a true #1 Wide Receiver.\u00a0 They offered Chris Godwin the most money and he turned them down.\u00a0 Cooper Kupp signed with Seattle.\u00a0 He wanted to stay on the West Coast and the 3-year contract at $15M a year is a ridiculous contract for a player of his age and declining skills.\u00a0 Kupp\u2019s stats have steadily declined over the last 5 years and last season he had his worst Yards After Catch.\u00a0 I am glad the Patriots weren’t serious players in that competition.<\/p>\n

The trade market is still available. The two prominent names are Tee Higgins and Brandon Aiyuk.\u00a0 San Francisco is desperate to get out from under the Aiyuk contract.\u00a0 He is coming off a knee injury and frankly I wouldn\u2019t help them out.\u00a0 Higgins is an interesting case.\u00a0 He is quite upset at being Franchise Tagged for the 2nd<\/sup> year in a row.\u00a0 Would he hold out and not sign his Franchise Tag until the very end and then hold out of training camp and possibly into the regular season?\u00a0 Cincinnati has Trey Hendrickson and Jamar Chase contracts to deal with.\u00a0 Hendrickson is available in a trade as well.\u00a0 This may play out well after the draft and then you are talking about 2026 draft picks.<\/p>\n

I am going to throw out another possibility and that is a trade with New Orleans Saints.\u00a0 They are looking for a long-term solution at QB and the Patriots have been letting it be known that QB Joe Milton is available at the right price.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0The Saints offer the often-concussed WR Chris Olave for Milton and say a 2026 3rd<\/sup> Round pick.\u00a0 The Patriots could make that a contingency deal based upon Olave\u2019s health.\u00a0 That is taking a stab at a terrific young player with a history of concussions.<\/p>\n

Keenan Allen is not an X Receiver and is far past his prime, but if the Patriots were willing to go after Cooper Kupp at his age and declining skills why not take the ever-reliable Allen.\u00a0 I would take him if for no other reason than to teach those young players how to be professionals and the nuances of running pass routes in the NFL.<\/p>\n

Left Guard t<\/strong>hey had a chance at signing any number of Guards and they passed at trading for Joe Thuney.\u00a0 There are a few guards left such as Teven Jenkins.\u00a0 The former Bears lineman had a true PFF ranking of #12 amongst Guards with a 74.5 rating.\u00a0 Curious that the Bears didn\u2019t try to retain him. \u00a0Jenkins is 6\u20196\u201d, 321-pounds, and is 27 years old.\u00a0\u00a0 I think if the Patriots have to go into the season with Lowe at Left Tackle, having an experienced player like Jenkins next to him would improve his play immensely.<\/p>\n

Brandon Scherff is a veteran Guard that is available.\u00a0 The 33-year-old played for Jacksonville last season.\u00a0 The 6\u20195\u201d, 315-pound Guard was the 1st<\/sup> round selection (#5 Overall) of Washington in 2015.\u00a0 He is a 5x Pro Bowl selection and an All-Pro 1st<\/sup> team in 2020.\u00a0 Could the Patriots add another older veteran on the line to teach the younger players what it means to be a professional in the NFL?<\/p>\n

Center \u00a0<\/strong>With the release of David Andrews the patriots now have a hole at Center.\u00a0 Ben Brown gave it his all, last season when both David and Jake Andrews went down.\u00a0 He just wasn\u2019t very good.\u00a0 Cole Strange played Center in the last game versus the Bills but he struggled against the Bills backups.\u00a0 Jake Andrews is back from injury but he has done nothing in two seasons and looked pretty bad in Pre-season work we have seen.<\/p>\n

Daniel Brunskill is one of the most versatile linemen in the NFL, having played right guard, center and even left tackle in emergency situations. He would serve as a cheap upgrade over Ben Brown and would provide the Patriots some stability.\u00a0 Adding a veteran depth piece like Brunskill ensures the Patriots have insurance across multiple spots on the line. Brunskill could start at center if needed, or he could be a high-end backup at multiple positions.<\/p>\n

Garrett Bradbury is about to be released by Minnesota if they can\u2019t trade him first.\u00a0 I would offer them the pick we received for Davon Godchaux in next year\u2019s draft.\u00a0 Bradbury was a 2019 1st<\/sup> round selection of Minnesota out of NC State.\u00a0 The 6\u20193\u201d 300-pound Center won the Rimington award in 2018 as the best Center in college football.\u00a0 He had a 62.1 PFF grade good for 29th<\/sup> true rating.\u00a0 This would be a significant upgrade at Center.<\/p>\n

Kicker <\/strong>Old friend Nick Folk is a Free Agent.\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe he got paid over $3M last season at nearly 40.\u00a0 If you are looking at younger players Michael Badgley who kicked for the Lions and Greg Joseph who was with the NY Jets are two more names.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see a college kicker signed after the draft.<\/p>\n

Patriots sign G\/C Wes Scweitzer<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a low-cost move, the Patriots signed the former NY Jet to a one-year contract.\u00a0 Terms of the contract haven\u2019t been released yet.\u00a0 Patriots Wide Receivers coach Todd Downing was a coach with the Jets last year and is familiar with Schweitzer who has only played a handful of plays for the Jets.\u00a0 This move will not prevent the team from going out and getting a Left Tackle, Center or Left Guard in Free Agency.<\/p>\n

FS Marcus Epps signs 1-year Deal <\/strong><\/p>\n

I have been calling for the Pats to sign a pure Free Safety and Epps just might be it.\u00a0 This is a below the radar signing that could benefit the team greatly.\u00a0 Epps was a 17-game starter in Philly in 2022 where he had 90 tackles.\u00a0 He signed on with Las Vegas in 2023 and followed that up with another 17 games as a starter and 66 tackles.\u00a0 Last season he started the 1st<\/sup> 3 games until a knee injury knocked him out for the season.\u00a0 His recovery time should make him available for the start of Training Camp.\u00a0 Prior to the knee injury, Epps was never a burner but ran a 4.55 40 and a 6.77 3-cone drill at his Pro Day in 2019.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t call him a ball-hawk either with just 3 Interceptions in his career.\u00a0 This is a low-cost, high-ceiling type of move.<\/p>\n

This was posted by Oliver Thomas on X \u2013 Josh McDaniels in 2023 on Epps “He’s been a really good, positive leader for our entire defense, our secondary, our safety group since he walked in the door. He just has a presence about him. He’s very mature. He’s intelligent. He understands the entirety of the call. It’s not just his job. He understands what the corners are doing, what the nickel is doing, what the linebackers are doing. He’s a great communicator. Very consistent approach to him every day, every play. Does his job well, does it at a high level. We were looking for somebody to be able to do that and have that kind of impact. And obviously Marcus was voted a captain here, so he’s certainly doing it now.”<\/p>\n

Another leader to help fill the void.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Free Agency cannot fill all the holes this team has.\u00a0 Eliot Wolf, Ryan Cowden and Mike Vrabel have done a good job upgrading the Defense with Vrabel kind of guys and leaders.\u00a0 However, they have swung and missed on Offense.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":58718,"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":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patriots-news"],"yoast_head":"\nMORSE: Patriots Have Work to Do<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Free Agency cannot fill all the holes this team has.\u00a0 Eliot 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