Anticipation is at an all-time high for the New England Patriots this offseason.
Tom Brady’s future with the team appears to be very cloudy and it’s shaking up the process for free agency in Foxborough. The Patriots have around $40 million to work with in cap space, but the list of free agents doesn’t give them much flexibility to make offseason moves. The list includes prominent names like Brady, Devin McCourty, Kyle Van Noy, Matthew Slater, Jamie Collins, Joe Thuney and Danny Shelton.
The Patriots also have a dire need to replenish the tight end position after an incredibly inefficient season from the group in 2019. But, the position that may hold the second-most importance behind quarterback is defensive line. New England’s defensive line was already thin and having Shelton and Adam Butler on the free agent market doesn’t help.
Lawrence Guy is who the Patriots will build around if they can’t retain either Butler or Shelton. There are some notable free agents on the market the Patriots should consider, especially considering their lackluster run defense in 2019.
Here are five free agent defensive tackle prospects for New England.
D.J. Reader (Houston Texans)
D.J. Reader, 25, has spent his four NFL seasons with the Houston Texans. He’s sent for free agency this offseason and expecting a large payday, making it a long shot for the Patriots to attain him. But, the situation would become a lot more interesting if the Patriots let go of Shelton and/or Butler.
Reader carries a nose tackle build at 6-foot-3, 347 pounds, but his increasing ability to rush the passer brings an intriguing dynamic. He had a career-high 2.5 sacks and 13 quarterback pressures last season — surpassing 11 quarterback hits in his first three seasons. Since 2016, Reader has played in 61 of 64 possible games and proved to be durable.
The paycheck will make it difficult for New England to retain him, but Reader could be a game-changer for a struggling defensive line.
Michael Pierce (Baltimore Ravens)
Michael Pierce, 27, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Similar to Reader, he’s set his self up for a large payday and he is increasingly becoming more versatile in the trenches.
Standing at 6-foot, 240 pounds, Pierce has a freakishly similar body type and skillset to Vince Wilfork. He’s an incredible run-stopper who’s agile and disruptive. Pierce was a major component in the Ravens’ fifth-best run-stopping defense in 2019 — which is the primary place of need currently with New England.
He’ll be searching for a long-term contract that pays well, but the Patriots should consider him if the circumstances allow it.
Javon Hargrave (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Javon Hargrave, 27, spent his four NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He plays a traditional nose tackle role and dependability has a been a huge factor he’s possessed. Hargrave started 52 games in Pittsburgh and played in 63 of 64 potential games.
Hargrave stands at 6-foot-2, 305 pounds and carries a little more agility than Reader and Pierce. He’s recorded 10.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss 14 quarterback hits in the past two seasons, which would be ideal for New England’s man-heavy defense.
Spoctrac has a projected five-year, $73 million contract for Hargrave this season, but the Patriots could potentially use their winning history to slim that down slightly. It’ll be a tough sell for the Patriots to make a move like this for a defensive lineman, but the need could be there if they lose out on Shelton or Butler.
A’Shawn Robinson (Detroit Lions)
A’Shawn Robinson, 24, spent his first four seasons with the Detroit Lions. He’s a reliable player who has played in 53 of 58 potential games in his career. Robinson is more of a traditional nose tackle who stops the run and carries a youthful edge.
He’s a bigger guy at 6-foot-4, 330 pounds and and he’s been under the tutelage of former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Fortunately for the Patriots, the former second-rounder hasn’t lived up to his potential fully in Detroit, leaving some leverage in contract negotiations.
The Patriots and Robinson could come together on a team-friendly contract that would be beneficial for the futures of both parties. Robinson is a more realistic prospect who has ties to the Patriots organization.
Ndamukong Suh (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Ndamukong Suh, 33, has spent time with four different NFL teams in his career. He’s a free agent for the third year in a row, playing for the Miami Dolphins, Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers most recently.
Suh is a 6-foot-4, 313 pound defensive lineman who has proven himself as one of the grittiest and efficient players in the league. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time First-Team All Pro player who has uncanny abilities. Suh just doesn’t have the Super Bowl title on his resume, which could become a reality with the Patriots. He’s also made nearly $150 million in his career, giving the Patriots some leverage in a contract situation.
He comes with some locker room issues and on-field incidents, so it’s very possible New England steers clear. But, if they could overlook some of these incidents, he would bring a powerful force to the defensive line.
