After big-ticket targets, who should Patriots pursue in NFL free agency? – New England Patriots Blog

The subsequent couple times will reveal if any huge-title move-catchers — this sort of as Allen Robinson II (Chicago Bears), Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Kenny Golladay (Detroit Lions), Hunter Henry (Los Angeles Chargers) and Jonnu Smith (Tennessee Titans) — strike the current market devoid of the restriction of the franchise tag.

So that’s where by items start for the Patriots.

At the exact time, the greater part of the team’s cost-free-agent browsing figures to be at reasonable to reduced levels.

Teams can begin negotiating with agents of gamers on other teams starting up March fifteen. Here are some gamers who caught my eye as people who could aid fill major desires, with added insight from ESPN NFL Country reporters:

My get: The 6-foot, 198-pound Agholor, who was on final year’s Patriots’ suits record as properly, turned in a good 2020 year that showed he is extra than a pure slot. He need to command a mid-selection current market. His velocity, situation adaptability and winning mentality would suit properly in a restocked getting corps.

NFL Country get: “Is it a accurate coming-out get together if no enthusiasts are there to partake and explained visitor of honor does not crack one,000 yards getting? When it will come to Agholor, certainly. Accurate, he was a very first-round decide on by the Eagles in 2015, but he by no means lived up to that draft standing in Philadelphia. Signed to a one-calendar year, $one,047,500 confirm-it deal by Las Vegas, Agholor became quarterback Derek Carr’s most successful wideout with a vocation-high 896 yards getting on forty eight catches for a vocation-ideal eighteen.7 property-per-capture ordinary that rated 2nd in the NFL among move-catchers who had at the very least twenty five receptions.

“Positive, he however had the occasional drop, but Carr had a a hundred.five passer rating when focusing on Agholor, who also had fifteen catches of at the very least 20 yards. His six TDs of at the very least 20 yards had been the 2nd-most in the league. Signed extra for depth, Agholor became the Raiders’ underneath-the-radar deep danger. And as Carr himself explained late in the year, ‘We’ve acquired to pay that male, and get him back.’ But will Las Vegas pony up?” — Paul Gutierrez, Raiders reporter

NFL Country get: “Bourne has quietly been one of the ideal examples of the Niners’ motivation to acquiring their own, functioning his way from undrafted cost-free agent to one of their major a few wideouts more than the past pair of seasons. Bourne has the capacity to perform in the slot and outdoors and has turned into a good route runner. He’s not a burner and is just not the sort who is going to defeat you deep, but he is unafraid to go more than the middle and will take satisfaction in his capacity as a run-blocker. The Niners would like to hold Bourne, who has an infectious energy that his teammates appreciate, but they might not be able to afford to pay for what it would get to hold him due to the fact he would be the No. three wideout, and the 49ers have other desires to fill with what minor cap space they have.” — Nick Wagoner, 49ers reporter

My get: A cost-free-agent fallback plan if Henry and Smith are out of attain, the 6-foot-three, 240-pound Everett had one capture but played properly in opposition to the Patriots in December when the Rams pounded absent with two-tight-conclude sets.

NFL Country get: “Everett is dynamic and proved he has the capacity to be an explosive playmaker in the passing recreation. Nevertheless, in four seasons with the Rams, he was unable to establish a constant existence week-in and week-out taking part in behind Tyler Higbee. Everett was considerably inconsistent as a move-catcher and also as a blocker, although his blocking enhanced every year. In 2019 in opposition to Seattle, Everett recorded 7 receptions for a vocation-high 136 yards, his only a hundred-getting property recreation with the Rams. A 2nd-round decide on in 2017, Everett turns 27 in June. A refreshing start and a extra constant purpose that retains his attention could serve him properly.” — Lindsey Thiry, Rams reporter

My get: The Patriots lost huge in their Danny Shelton-for-Beau Allen exchange final calendar year, as the lack of dimension/existence at defensive deal with subsequent to cost-free-agent-to-be Lawrence Dude showed up. Hankins is an eight-calendar year veteran who turns 29 this month.

NFL Country get: “A dependable a few-calendar year starter following signing as a cost-free agent, Hankins has been good if unspectacular for the Raiders. He is extra space-eater than pocket-pusher but has demonstrated an capacity to collapse items. He has a merged two.five sacks the past a few seasons, which is a far cry from the 7 sacks he had for the New York Giants in 2014. However, at 6-foot-three, 340 lbs ., Hankins’ fifty and forty eight tackles the past two seasons are the 2nd and third-most tackles he is had in his eight-calendar year vocation. He however has some tread on his tires for whichever crew will take a probability on him.” — Paul Gutierrez, Raiders reporter

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My get: The Patriots are at their ideal when they have a a few-male rotation at the huge-bodied DT location. The major two typically perform about fifty% of the snaps as run-stoppers who can also force the pocket with power.

NFL Country get: “Jones is a two-hole run-stuffer who will permit linebackers behind him to appear up and make performs. He’ll occupy blocks. He’s also a shockingly superior move-rusher. Jones would not get a lot of sacks, but he’ll get stress and is superior on deal with/conclude stunts. Also, he is genuinely superior in the group. He donated truckloads of provides to twister victims in Nashville, Tennessee final calendar year. I never feel the Titans will bring him back. They genuinely like Teair Tart, an undrafted cost-free agent from final calendar year.” -– Turron Davenport, Titans reporter

My get: Curtis Samuel (Carolina Panthers) is the sort of fast twin danger who would aid any offense, but with the strategy his selling price tag might exceed where by the Patriots want to be, Ross (five-eleven, 194) would be a very low-spending budget gadget solution in a comparable projected purpose. When he clocked 4.two-seconds in the 40-property sprint at the 2017 combine, he turned heads.

NFL Country get: “Ross arrived in Cincinnati with great anticipations following he was drafted with the ninth all round decide on in the 2017 draft. Nevertheless, the fast ex-Washington standout was by no means able to continuously generate generation. Ross admittedly struggled with his self-self-assurance at times early in his vocation. When he commenced off properly in 2019, his success was hampered by a chest injuries that set him on hurt reserve for eight weeks. Ross however has the physical equipment to be a dynamic receiver that can get behind opposing defenses. And following a rough four many years in Cincinnati, a refreshing start could be precisely what he desires to faucet into his opportunity.” — Ben Little one, Bengals reporter