The initial wave of free agency has ended, and the New England Patriots are presumably a worse team now than they were when they won the Super Bowl in February. It has barely been a week since the start of the new league year, and there is panic that the great collapse is finally upon us.
In other words, it has been another typical offseason in Foxborough.
Outside of trading for Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Michael Bennett, Patriots coach Bill Belichick spent the first week methodically restructuring old deals for cap relief, while inking extensions to expiring contracts. It’s the complete opposite end of the spectrum to what the Cleveland Browns are doing right now.
Granted, the Patriots have taken some serious hits this offseason, most notably in losing left tackle Trent Brown, defensive end Trey Flowers, defensive tackle Malcom Brown and special teams ace Cordarrelle Patterson.
With Rob Gronkowski’s decision to retire, their thinning receiving corps is only further highlighted with Josh Gordon still suspended and free agent wideout Chris Hogan exploring free agency. Not to mention the hard-hitting truth that quarterback Tom Brady is turning 42 years old. Some might even go as far as to suggest the sky is falling for the Patriots.
Never mind the fact that Belichick has MacGyver’d his way through tougher situations without a king’s ransom of draft picks. There are still plenty of moves for the Patriots to make, and one could potentially be that earth-shattering, blockbuster deal that turns the world upside down. It’s easy to forget Belichick dealt for legendary wideout Randy Moss in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Here are five unexpected and possibly game-changing moves the Patriots could still make.
Bring back Jamie Collins
If distance makes the heart grow fonder, then it might finally be time for a reunion between the Patriots and former All-Pro linebacker Jamie Collins.
The former second-round pick out of Southern Mississippi was traded by the Patriots in 2016 to the Cleveland Browns, who ultimately signed him to a four-year, $50 million deal. That deal came to an end after the 2018 season, where he registered 104 tackles, four sacks, four pass deflections and a forced fumble.
There is speculation that the initial break-up between the Patriots and Collins was due to his tendency to “freelance” during plays. That kind of approach to playing defense would be the quickest way to land in the doghouse with a detail-oriented coach like Belichick. However, the Patriots would be wiping the slate clean with this reunion proposal.
Inconsistency has been Collins’ main issue, particularly in situations where his freak athleticism isn’t able to bail him out. But there is no denying the rare versatility he brings to the linebacker position as both a human battering ram and a savvy coverage player. The combination of Collins, Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy and Ja’Whaun Bentley would instantly vault the Patriots’ linebacking corps to the top of the league.
Trade for Sterling Shepard
With so many trade scenarios out there, it’s a wonder New York Giants wideout Sterling Shepard isn’t getting more recognition. He’s playing on an expiring contract and stuck on a team that is seemingly hitting the reboot button in 2019.
An extra draft pick might actually be more enticing to the Giants than renegotiating Shepard’s contract at this point, particularly when the team is in no position to compete next season. As far as the talent side of things, Shepard would be a perfect fit with the Patriots given his ability to gash defenses over the middle of the field. He’s also younger and works with more quickness than Hogan to consistently get open.
There were stretches when All-Pro wideout Odell Beckham Jr. wasn’t on the field, and Shepard stepped up as the Giants’ top receiver. Despite catching passes from a rapidly declining Eli Manning, he still managed to haul in 66 receptions for 872 yards and four touchdowns in 2018. This move seems more up the Patriots’ alley than going out and breaking the bank for a true No. 1 receiver.
Patriots use their draft picks
Here’s a simple suggestion: The Patriots should actually use their draft picks this year.
Every year Belichick micromanages the draft by methodically trading back for more picks. It’s the only predictable strategy from the most unpredictable guy in the room. The Patriots haven’t quite reached the point of needing a hoarder intervention, but they should consider unloading most, if not all, of their picks this year to ensure Brady has a realistic shot at taking the team to a fourth-straight Super Bowl.
There are a plethora of young receivers in the draft that could help the team win next season, including South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel and Clemson’s Hunter Renfrow. Perhaps they’d even value a player like tight end T.J. Hockenson enough to take him in the first round.
They could also use the picks to bolster the same defense that is still mostly intact from Super Bowl LIII.
No one wants to see a middle-aged Brady standing on an island and waiting for guys to get open next season. If Belichick couldn’t get the players he wanted in free agency, it’s time to start using his bevy of picks to increase the odds of the Patriots landing on the right guy in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Take the plunge for A.J. Green
There is still plenty of time for the Patriots to get loud in the offseason. A blockbuster trade for Cincinnati’s A.J. Green would give Brady a rare No. 1 receiving target as he continues to battle back the inevitable clutches of Father Time.
Green being traded makes the most sense with the Bengals in the process of rebuilding their roster. It makes no sense for them to offer another hefty extension to a soon-to-be 31-year-old receiver on an expiring contract. This is typically the situation where Belichick catches the rest of the league sleeping and gets the seven-time Pro Bowler for a Dollar Store discount.
The addition of Green, along with Edelman and the possible return of Gordon, would be a dramatic shake-up offensively for the Patriots and a nightmare to opposing defenses that would have to face them. Green missed half of the 2018 season with a toe injury and still managed to catch 45 passes for 687 yards and six touchdowns.
Sign Ndamukong Suh
An injection of attitude up front never hurt anyone, and the Patriots could go that route by picking up free agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
During his short stay with the Los Angeles Rams, the former No. 2 overall draft pick showed that he is still capable of being a disruptive force up front by turning in 59 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and four passes batted down at the line of scrimmage.
Things were getting a bit crowded in Los Angeles, and perhaps Suh would be interested in taking a bit less money for another team he could help compete for a Super Bowl. The former first-team All-Pro tackle would be a significant addition to a Patriots defense that has suddenly morphed into one of the most physical units in the league.
