One reunion the Patriots should explore in free agency
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 16: Stephon Gilmore #21 of the Dallas Cowboys during warm up before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 16, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Cornerback – particularly boundary cornerback – is an understated need for the Patriots this offseason. While not a premium need like quarterback, tackle, or receiver, the Patriots very well could end up with a hole at that spot.
At first, L’Jarius Sneed was floated as an option to be more of a ‘1A-1B’ option with Christian Gonzalez. However, the Kansas City Chiefs franchise tagging him should take that option off the table. While USA Today has reported the Patriots did inquire about a trade, MassLive’s Mark Daniels later relayed the team did that as ‘due diligence’ – as should be the case. Adding Sneed was initially an attractive option because it would only cost the Patriots cap space, but now they’d likely need to also give up a top-50 pick – an asset that needs to be used on the offensive side of the ball.
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So where does that leave things? Gonzalez is expected to return as the team’s top boundary cornerback. Jonathan Jones could remain on the outside, or move back into the slot with Myles Bryant a pending free agent. If Jones moves back inside the team will need a new second outside corner, or a third if he moves back inside/to provide reliable depth at an important position. The Patriots can’t afford another season of duct-taping the cornerback position together.
Right now, there are a group of younger players projected to compete for that second/third boundary cornerback role. Alex Austin, Shaun Wade, Marco Wilson, and Isaiah Bolden all could be options, but there’s not much of a floor with that group. If the Patriots can make it work, adding a more experienced boundary corner makes more sense than betting on that group (and realistically the team could have both, with the veteran and one player from that group both making the team).
Which free agents would best fit that role? There’s one player in this class that’s not getting a ton of attention, but Patriots fans are already familiar with – Stephon Gilmore.
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During the Bill Belichick era, players re-joining the New England Patriots for second or even third stints was a relatively common event. Will that trend continue as Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo take over? If so, Gilmore is a strong candidate.
Gilmore is ranked the 34th overall player and fifth cornerback on PFF’s free agency big board. While he’s not the player he once and likely won’t be contending for Defensive Player of the Year t this point, he showed last year at the age of 33 he can still be a solid contributor. In 17 games for the Cowboys Gilmore was targeted 95 times, allowing 53 catches with 13 pass breakups and two interceptions.
In New England Gilmore could play opposite Gonzalez, while also being a very valuable asset for the Patriots’ 2023 first-round pick as an example of what it takes on and off the field to be a top cornerback in the NFL. A starting cornerback trio of Gonzalez, Gilmore, and Jones, with Marcus Jones and one of the players listed above would certainly allow the Patriots’ defense to keep playing at a high level.
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That all sounds great for the Patriots but the real question is, would Gilmore have any interest? As he enters his age 34 season, will be be more interested in playing for a contender and chasing down one more ring, or trying to get paid while he still can.
If it’s the latter, there’s no reason to think the Patriots can’t be competitive in making an offer. PFF has Gilmore’s projected contract at one year, $10 million. That’s about right for a starting second corner on a short-term deal due to age, and with over $87 million in cap space the Patriots can afford to overpay a bit in this situation if they feel Gilmore will help their team. Ultimately Gilmore may not sign, but this seems like at least a call worth making.
That all being said, it doesn’t have to be Gilmore who fills that role. Other cornerbacks available who project into similar positions include Kendall Fuller (PFF projects three years, $40 million), Chidobe Awuzie (two years, $21 million), Steven Nelson (two years, $14.5 million), and Adoree’ Jackson (one year, $6 million).
Read more Patriots free agency preview…
How will the Patriots adjust to a thin wide receiver market in free agency?
Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 08: Marquise Brown #2 of the Arizona Cardinals runs the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the third quarter at State Farm Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
The Patriots have talked about ‘weaponizing’ their offense, and Brown definitely brings a ‘weaponized’ skill set with his speed and big play ability. However those skills haven’t always translated to elite production, with just one 1,000-yard season in five years (that came with the Ravens in 2021). Last year in 14 games he caught 51 passes for 574 yards and four touchdowns. With Brown size is also a concern, at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds. Brown will turn 27 in June.
Calvin Ridley
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 07: Calvin Ridley #0 of the Jacksonville Jaguars catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Ridley’s situation is a unique one. The list of players to sit out a full year for reason other than injury, then come back and produce is truly limited. Yet after missing 2022 due to a gambling suspension, Ridley returned in 2023 and despite some inconsistent play was Jacksonville’s leading receiver catching 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Patriots would certainly take that kind of production at the wide receiver position. However, Ridley is entering his age 29 season, with the 30-year-old mark often being a line of demarcation at the wide receiver position. Even if Ridley does provide a boost in 2024, he can’t be assumed to be a long-term answer at the position, and more of a stop-gap.
Gabe Davis
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 26: Gabe Davis #13 of the Buffalo Bills carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of the game at Highmark Stadium on October 26, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
On the topic of inconsistencies, Davis is hard to pin down. For every monster game he has – and he’s had some big ones – there are two or three where he’s a relative no-show. Overall last season he caught 45 passes for 746 yards and seven touchdowns, but 57.2 percent of his receiving yards came in just four games. Meanwhile, he was held without a catch in four games in which he played over 70 percent of his snaps, and had two or fewer catches in 10 of 17 games.
Plus, at his next stop Davis won’t have Stephon Diggs across the formation from him drawing coverage. There’s certainly upside in a 6-foot-2, 225-pound receiver that can go up and get the football, but it’s also hardly a guarantee Davis provides high-level production in a new environment.
Darnell Mooney
CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 17: Darnell Mooney #11 of the Chicago Bears warms up prior to a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Mooney shined in 2021, catching 81 passes for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns. He hasn’t been able to surpass 500 yards since, although that’s likely do in part to inconsistent quarterback play in Chicago. The 26-year-old is a good deep threat with legitimate speed, but he’ll need to do more than that to carry an offense. Mooney is another player that would be a strong signing as a secondary option, but not as a top receiver.
Odell Beckham Jr.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Odell Beckham Jr. #3 of the Baltimore Ravens lines up against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The Patriots were reportedly interested in acquiring Beckham at the trade deadline in 2021. Will that interest continue a few years later. Even if it does, there’s not much incentive for Beckham to come to New England outside of money, and even with all of their cap space overpaying a 31-year-old wideout doesn’t feel like the Patriots’ best course of action.
Tyler Boyd
CINCINNATI, OHIO – NOVEMBER 12: Tyler Boyd #83 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches a pass against Denzel Perryman #6 of the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Boyd is a big, physical receiver who is more of a chain-mover than a big play threat. Again, a player that would represent a good complementary signing but isn’t going to bring the juice needed at the top of the depth chart.
Michael Thomas
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 24: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints runs a pass route during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Earlier this week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter listed Thomas as one of the “top free agent wide receivers” in this class despite the fact that the 31-year-old has played a total of 20 games over the last four years. Injuries cost him his prime and now he’s on the wrong side of 30 – his WR1 days are almost certainly behind him.
Josh Reynolds
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 08: Josh Reynolds #8 of the Detroit Lions makes a catch for a touchdown past CJ Henderson #23 of the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter at Ford Field on October 08, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Reynolds had the best season of his career last year for the Lions at the age of 28, catching 40 passes for 608 yards with five touchdowns. At 6-foot-3, 194 pounds with good speed he can be a threat, but he hasn’t proven he can do it consistently. His performance last year certainly helped his value, but how much should any team be willing to bet he turns the corner now at age 29?
Donovan Peoples-Jones
CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 19: Donovan Peoples-Jones #11 of the Cleveland Browns warms up before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Peoples-Jones looked poised for a breakout after catching 61 passes for 839 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. However, he was slow out of the gate last season and ended up getting traded away mid-season. Still, the 25-year-old had success with Alex Van Pelt in the past. He’s not a No. 1 option, but it would make sense to find out he’s on the Patriots’ radar.
