Jon Wallach: Don’t panic – The New England Patriots will be fine
What did you expect?
The Patriots have been slow out of gate during the “Legal Tampering Period”. All they’ve really done is bring back some of their own key free agents and that makes for a less than spectacular story in a Post Bill world. I’m fine with it.
How did going nuts in free agency work out for you the last time?
No, I’ll take the slow, methodical rebuild and, what’s more, it’s more about culture this time. Hunter Henry stood in front of the media and threw himself on his sword week after week last season, and that’s a leadership guy I want here. Mike Onwenu is back and, although it’s not an explosive move, it shows that, 1-This franchise now values their own players for a change, and 2-The offensive line will remain stable, at least on the right side, for a few years. As Tom Cruise once said to Ed Harris at the end of the movie The Firm, “It’s not sexy, but it has teeth”.

Aug 25, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Josh Uche (55) tackles Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (32) for a loss during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Then there’s the curious case of Josh Uche. He was apparently offered more money to leave, but chose to stay. That’s a first for a current player who didn’t win here. Could it be that Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf provide a calmer environment that players want to be around?
Fans of this team and other media members are screaming for the Patriots to do something. We had a guy call the show this morning and say that Wolf should trade a second or 3rd round draft pick for Justin Fields, draft Marvin Harrison Jr and sign Calvin Ridley. Boom, you’re a contender. Fine. You do that, and Fields flames out. Then what? You’re out the high draft pick that you need to help build a roster, and, 12 months from now, you’re right back where you started, without a quarterback. Even worse, now you’re also without the high first round selection next year that you need to get one. Say Fields hits. Then you have to pay him 45 or 50 million dollars a season over 4 or 5 years, and you don’t have the cap space you need to help you build a roster, or re-sign your current players. You may win 9 or 10 games a season, but you also probably won’t get back to the Super Bowl.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 24: Jacoby Brissett #12 of the Washington Commanders looks to pass during the second half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 24, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Look at what Kansas City and Buffalo did and what San Francisco is doing. All 3 teams capitalized on a QB that they drafted and was making a rookie salary. They used that extra cap space to go get players to punch up the roster around him. That’s the model the Patriots should be following. Draft Maye or Daniels at 3, get some needed help on the offense line, edge or wide receiver and let all of these kids evolve.
Draft, Develop, Re-sign. Repeat. There are no quick fixes if you want this team to be good over a long period of time.
This method requires the one thing that every Patriots fan under the age of 30 doesn’t have, and that’s patience. Eliot Wolf seems to understand this, and, at the moment, it looks like the owner gets it as well.
I’m all for it, and watching this team do things the right way should be worth it, too.