The New England Patriots have made very few transactions during free agency. Their only signings has been receiver Damiere Byrd, defensive tackle Beau Allen and safety Adrian Phillips.
Meanwhile, the Patriots have seen the departures of Tom Brady, Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, Danny Shelton, Nate Ebner, Ted Karras, Elandon Roberts and Nate Ebner. Belichick also traded away Duron Harmon. It has felt like an offseason where New England sheds a number of talented players. This is when the Patriots begin to do their best work. They watch other teams overpay for the perceived top-tier free agents, including many former Patriots. And then Belichick finds players who are buy-low, high-upside options.
Here’s a look at who he might target in the second flurry of free agency.
Reggie Ragland, LB
The 26-year-old spent one season with the Buffalo Bills, who drafted him in the second round in 2016. The Bills flipped him to the Chiefs after he spent his rookie season on injured reserve. In 2018, he recorded 86 tackles and one interception. Perhaps Bill Belichick can find a use for Ragland in the middle of New England’s defense.
Nelson Agholor, WR
Agholor’s career has been just a small step above what Phillip Dorsett has done in terms of production. And in many ways, they are a similar receiver. Agholor has spent more time in the slot than Dorsett, but Agholor would likely line up on the outside in New England’s system. He can also do a nice job stretching the field. And while he has had two seasons with over 700 receiving yards, he managed just 363 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2019. It’s a good time to nab the 26-year-old at a time when he’s hit a lowpoint.
Rashard Higgins, WR
Higgins moved up the Cleveland Browns’ depth chart in 2018, largely because there was no one else. But he was solid, catching 39 passes on 53 targets for 572 yards and four touchdowns. That year, he showed promise, even if he moved dramatically down the depth chart in 2019. Perhaps the Patriots could find a way to optimize his abilities as a possession receiver.
Derek Wolfe, DL
New England already signed defensive tackle Beau Allen, who will be a nice replacement for Shelton, another hulking defensive tackle. Wolfe, meanwhile, might be more of a 3-4 defensive end, if the Patriots remain in that formation. New England might put Wolfe on the field with Allen and Adam Butler to comprise a solid three-man defensive line.
Eric Ebron, TE
Ebron was an absolute stud in 2018 (750 yards, 13 TDs) with Andrew Luck at quarterback. When the Colts regressed under Jacoby Brissett, Ebron’s decline was pronounced. He finished the season with just 31 catches, 375 yards and three touchdowns. Even so, those numbers would have led the Patriots in 2019 — by far. Ebron is still just 26 years old, even if he’s coming off a weak season. He’d be just the safety net the next Patriots quarterback — whoever that is — needs. Ebron’s presence might also help Julian Edelman find more space in the middle of the field.
Nick Vannett, TE
It’s a barren tight end market, but the Patriots visited with Vannett when he was coming out of Ohio State, and perhaps they kept tabs on him when he was in Seattle and Pittsburgh. Coincidentally, the 27-year-old fell below Jacob Hollister on the Seahawks’ depth chart after he joined the team in a trade with New England. But of course, that won’t stop the Patriots from signing Vannett, and potentially bringing him in as competition for the group. His best season was in 2018 when he had 269 yards and three touchdowns.
Jameis Winston, QB
Just how bad is the market for Winston?
It seems like no one wants him — which is pretty foolish. After all, Winston is a much better player than Nick Foles. But let’s not dissect the Chicago Bears’ mistakes. Though Winston has a knack for boneheaded decisions, he is just 26 years old, and he’s likely to make fewer what-were-you-thinking errors under Josh McDaniels’ system. If Bruce Arians is a risk taker, McDaniels is just the opposite. So if Winston threw 30 picks in Tampa, maybe McDaniels can find a way to halve that number. And because the market is so bleak for Winston, the Patriots will likely be able to afford him on the cheap.
Blake Bortles, QB
My stance remains that this would be a truly Belichickian move. Bortles was a product of his circumstances in Jacksonvile. This isn’t to say that he’s good, but he has some talent with his legs and his arm. He could help the Patriots, whether as a starter or a backup. And he cost just $1 million in 2019. It’s kind of a no-braider, right? Add Bortles to the quarterback competition.
Bortles would be a solid quarterback to have during training camp. And if that proved otherwise, the Patriots could cut him and move on.
