Patriots sign guard with an interesting name
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: James Houston #41 of the Detroit Lions bursts off the line of scrimmage against Michael Jordan #73 of the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter of a preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The New England Patriots have added a guard to their 90-man roster for 2024, and his name will be familiar to you – but because of someone else.
We’re talking about Michael Jordan, the guard. No, the offensive guard. No, the offensive lineman in American football. Jordan is signing a futures contract with the Patriots, as the team announced Wednesday.
MORE: Here’s how Jerod Mayo feels about the Patriots and ‘titles’
Jordan, 25, played the first two seasons of his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals as a fourth-round pick out of Ohio State. He spent the 2021-22 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, then spent most of the 2023 season on the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad. Overall, Jordan has played 55 games in his NFL career, with 29 starts.
![Nov 21, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers guard Mike Jordan (73) is introduced before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2022/11/Michael-Jordan-Panthers-copy-1.jpg)
Nov 21, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers guard Mike Jordan (73) is introduced before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
If Jordan sticks around on the Patriots roster, you can be sure that the puns and references to the great Michael Jordan of Chicago Bulls fame will be endless. But in case anyone absolutely needed to hear this, the more important thing for the Patriots is whether this Jordan can play guard on a football team.
It’s going to be a big season for the Pats’ guard group, especially if Mike Onwenu stays at right tackle (that is, if he even re-signs). Cole Strange, a 2022 first-round pick, has struggled with injuries and inconsistency over his first two seasons. Sidy Sow helped solidify the line at right guard in the 2023 season, but he remains relatively unproven heading into his second season.
Jordan should have a legitimate chance to compete for not just a roster spot but playing time at guard. But even if he somehow becomes a good starter for them, the Patriots offense still has plenty of bigger problems to tackle. Like, who’s going to play quarterback and who’s going to be the offensive coordinator.
Patriots have more than enough to cash in on free-agent stars
The New England Patriots plan to spend in free agency in the 2024 off-season. It should be big. And so should the caliber of players they sign.
There are enough high-end players at positions of need in free agency, that the Patriots should be able to lure in at least one. This means that, even if the Patriots’ spending spree is similar to 2021 in terms of total money, it should still be a departure from how Bill Belichick and the Patriots approached it two years ago.
MORE: Here’s how Jerod Mayo feels about the Patriots and ‘titles’
Armed with $66.1 million in salary cap space, fourth-most in the NFL, the Patriots are poised to spend similarly to their 2021 explosion that totaled $137.5 million in guarantees. That’s if head coach Jerod Mayo’s word is good enough to keep that promise.
“We’re bringing in talent, one thousand percent,” Mayo said during an interview on WEEI. “We have a lot of cap space and cash. Ready to burn some cash,” he finished, in a mockingly badass way.
![FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 17: Newly appointed head coach Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots speaks to the media during a press conference at Gillette Stadium on January 17, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2024/01/Jerod-Mayo-press-conference-04-copy.jpg)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 17: Newly appointed head coach Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots speaks to the media during a press conference at Gillette Stadium on January 17, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Mayo’s personality is certainly shining through in his early media appearances as the Patriots’ new head coach, in just one of the ways he’s sure to be different than his predecessor. But how truthful is he being about the burning of the cash?
The Pats obviously have the aforementioned space to work with. And in simply going from Belichick to a 37-year-old first-time head coach in Mayo, they likely have a lot more room in the football budget to spend on players.
But the question is: how do they spend? Do they do it wisely?
One could argue that only some of the Patriots’ 2021 spree was well-spent. Matthew Judon and Hunter Henry were home runs at a combined AAV of about $26.1 million. But one area that could be pointed to as an area of questionable management: wide receiver.
Matt, a North Andover, Massachusetts native, has been with The Sports Hub since 2010. Growing up the son of Boston University All-American and Melrose High School hall-of-fame hockey player Steve Dolloff, sports was always a part of his life. After attending Northeastern University, Matt focused his love of sports on writing, extensively writing about all four major Boston teams. He also is a co-host of the Sports Hub Underground podcast and is a regular on-air contributor on the Sports Hub. Matt writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.