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Quantity hasn’t been an issue for the New England Patriots in the NFL free agency.
What about the quality?
The Patriots, who recently re-signed quarterback Cam Newton, splurged on Monday, the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period, apparently accepting contracts with seven outside free agents: tight end Jonnu Smith, wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, the rusher on board. Matt Judon, defensive back Jalen Mills, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and defensive lineman Henry Anderson.
Bill Belichick then pulled out his wallet again on Tuesday, apparently agreeing to a deal with tight end Hunter Henry, one of the best players available on the open market.
With rumors continuing to swirl, the Patriots may not be finished as they look to strengthen their roster ahead of the 2021 season. ESPN NFL reporters Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano and Kevin Seifert have noted on the fly some of the biggest signatures of free agents of the league, taking into account contract terms, number of money, value and age of players, as well as history.
Here’s how ESPN ranked the Patriots’ most notable offerings to date, from high to low:
QB Cam Newton: A
WR Nelson Agholor: B +
TE Jonnu Smith: B +
TE Hunter Henry: B
OLB Matt Judon: B
DB Jalen Mills: C +
Clearly, it’s still too early to fully assess New England’s offseason, especially with the 2021 NFL Draft on the horizon. The Patriots have wasted no time in meeting their most pressing needs via a free agency, and it will be interesting to see what else Belichick has up his sleeve.
Could New England bring another quarterback to compete with Newton? How about a trade for a superstar playmaker, like Odell Beckham Jr.? Maybe throw a running back?
We probably shouldn’t rule anything out at this point, based on the Patriots’ activity over the past few days and the organization’s clear desire to turn things around after a disappointing 2020 season.
Thumbnail photo via Jasen Vinlove / USA TODAY Sports Images
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