Zolak & Bertrand: Phil Perry on how the Patriots should ‘burn some cash’
Phil Perry details his plan on how the Patriots can ‘burn some cash’ in free agency as new head coach Jerod Mayo recently vowed the team will do this offseason. With about $75 million to spend after the reported departures of Adrian Phillips and Lawrence Guy, the Patriots will be able to do plenty of work to fill the massive holes that currently exist on their roster. Here is Perry’s plan to fix that Pats:
Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft addresses media at a press conference announcing the hiring of Jerod Mayo as the team’s new head coach at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Perry’s plan to ‘burn some cash’
“These are the free agents that I’m targeting. I’m starting with Calvin Ridley. $16.5 million a year. You can work that cap number down to 8 or 9 in year one, depending on how you spread out the bonuses.
“Then we’re going to the offensive line. We’re resigning Michael Onwenu to a $15 million a year deal for four years. Then we’re going and getting Jonah Williams from Cincinnati. Wasn’t happy there last year. Had to play right tackle. Is used to playing left tackle. He can go back to left tackle this year for the Patriots. But maybe you get to pay him as a right tackle because that’s where he played most recently. You’re going $15 million a year for for Jonah Williams as well.
“Then we’re going over to tight end and Hunter Henry. You’re bringing him back $10 million a year. You’re signing Jacoby Brissett to be your backup. And basically your caddy for your rookie quarterback one year $8 million.
“Then we’re going over to the defensive side. I know everybody wants to spend all the money offensively. You are going to need some help defensively. I’m not sure Matthew Judon is going to be here for 2024. He’s coming off an injury, had money moved from his 2024 salary to 2023 to make him happy. Now 2024, though, is low and he’s coming off an injury. I might be willing to let him walk if you can then signed to Danielle Hunter in free agency, $21 million per year. It’s about $12 million in cap money for year one. Then we’re going over to corner. Kendall Fuller, you need a corner opposite Christian Gonzalez. $13 million a year. Last player is Kyle Dugger, you could bring him back on the tag for $16 million year, which I don’t even think is great value, but I like him as a player. Patriots love him. They think he’s one of the best safeties in the league.
“You could give all of those guys all of those dollar figures that I just mentioned, including Dugger on the franchise tag, which you should be able to work down with a longer term deal if you want him here for the long haul and still have over $10 million left in cap space. That’s how much cap space the Patriots should have this offseason, especially if and when they release J.C. Jackson.
LISTEN: Phil Perry on how the Patriots can burn some cash
Patriots 2024 coaching staff new hires officially announced
After weeks of reports of various hirings, the New England Patriots formally announced the new members of their 2024 coaching staff on Monday.
With Monday’s announcement, the picture of the coaching staff is filled out. Pending any late, lower-level additions, here’s what the group looks like under head coach Jerod Mayo.
Offensive staff:
Offensive coordinator: Alex Van Pelt
Quarterbacks: T.C. McCartney
Running backs coach: Taylor Embree
Wide receivers coach: Tyler Hughes
Assistant wide receivers coach: Tiquan Underwood
Tight ends coach: Bob Bicknell
Offensive line coach: Scott Peters
Assistant offensive line coach: Robert Kugler
Senior offensive assistant: Ben McAdoo
Offensive assistant: Michael McCarthy
Defensive staff:
Defensive coordinator: DeMarcus Covington*
Defensive line coach: Jerry Montgomery
Inside linebackers coach: Dont’a Hightower
Outside linebackers coach: Drew Wilkins
Cornerbacks coach: Mike Pellegrino*
Safeties coach: Brian Belichick*
Defensive assistant: Vinny DePalma
Defensive assistant: Jamael Lett
Special teams staff:
Special teams coordinator: Jeremy Springer
Assistant special teams coach: Tom Quinn
Assistant special teams coach: Coby Tippett
Strength & conditioning staff:
Strength & conditioning coach: Deron Mayo*
Assistant strength & conditioning coach: Brian McDonough
*Returning from 2023 staff
Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo addresses media with owner Robert Kraft (not pictured) at a press conference at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Coaches previously reported to be returning weren’t included in the release. That group is made up of cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino, safeties coach Brian Belichick, and strength and conditioning coach Deron Mayo.
Now that the full coaching roster has finally been made official, here are some big picture takeaways on the Patriots’ 2024 coaching staff…
Number of coaches
Dec 12, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The first thing that stands out about this staff is simply the number of coaches on it. Last year the Patriots had 17 coaches titled at assistant positional coach or higher. This year, that number is 21 (with potentially more on the way).
As ESPN’s Mike Reiss pointed out over the weekend, under Bill Belichick the Patriots tended to have among the NFL’s smallest coaching staffs “partly because [Belichick] wanted to ensure there were no mixed messages.” However, the number is bigger as Mayo takes over because, according to Reiss, “the desire to integrate ideas and perspectives from those who have coached elsewhere — and is also perhaps a nod to how rare Belichick was in terms of having the knack to handle so many responsibilities himself.”
Age
Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt during OTA workouts on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 in Berea. (Phil Masturzo/USA Today Network)
Based on their early interviews, it seemed like the Patriots’ coaching staff was going to trend on the younger side this year. In the end the group is only slightly younger than the 2023 staff, and more staggered in age.
The average age of the Patriots’ 2023 coaching staff was 37.3 years old. However, 71-year-old Belichick skewed that number a bit, and the average age of all the assistants was actually 37.3. As things stand now, this year’s average age of the Patriots’ coaches is 36.6 years old (37-year-0ld head coach Jerod Mayo only moves the number by a small fraction).
Last year, the Patriots had two coaches in their 50s, three in their 40s, and just one in his 20s. For their 2024 staff the Patriots will have three coaches in their 50s, four in their 40s, and two in their 20s. Everybody else is in their 30s.
Remaining questions
Aug 2, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receivers/kickoff returners coach Troy Brown works with the receiving core at training camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
This announcement leaves the status of two of last year’s coaches up in the air – Troy Brown and Joe Judge. Both of their previous jobs were filled, suggesting the team is moving on from both without any sort of official announcement. If either does return (it was
Still waiting for more clarity on that, but my understanding is that Troy has an opportunity to stay if he desires (specific role TBD). Not sure on Billy Yates, who some o-linemen speak very highly of as a man/coach.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) February 11, 2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently reported that the team extended Brown, the now-former wide receivers coach, an opportunity to do so), it would most likely be in a new role.
