Patriots/NFL NFL Patriots Off Season
- Thread starter Gee Wally
- Start date
Interesting selection
Kupp and Bourne were college teammates and i think I read roommates- Bourne trying to recruit him
Baker seems like a knuckle head
Baker, Polk, Bouttie all did more talking than producing on the field
They all should be scared shitless of opening their mouths
Surprised how slight he is
Kupp would have been great 2-3 years ago, not sure who else in FA that would be better, Cooper? Diggs? May be better to trade.
Doubt it can't see him being anything he didn't just suck he was terrible at everything. I'd be throwing him in a Milton trade.
Do a 1 year deal bc even if you get a good season he'll be cooked by the end of it. We can't use all our cap room.
I think Cooper is still good. Diggs is a psychopath pass.
He had a good run here, got a ring. I wish him well
Thought his play fell off last year
Great place for him. They wanted him in the draft. Did well when Lawrence was out.
Wish him well
I like Boutte, think he'll be a decent third receiver behind #2 Douglas and hopefully a #1 guy.
Quality players remain available for Patriots as free agency hits lull point
With the first wave of free agency completed, most of the top players who hit the market this offseason have already signed with new teams. The Patriots made a big splash on the first day of the legal tampering period, signing seven players (mostly on defense) and spending more than half their projected available cap space.
The reaction was primarily positive, given the players they signed which included a couple of the top available players, but there was a noticeable absence of offensive help.
That will inevitably force the new regime to look more heavily into the players still available as the second week of free agency is set to begin. Fortunately for them, there are quite a few top names still unsigned and could be immediate boosts to the offense around Drake Maye, even if they weren't necessarily their top choices.
There are also some notable defensive players looking for new contracts that could pique their interest, given how impactful they could be for what they're trying to build defensively for the 2025 season.
Keenan Allen is one of the top remaining names that have piqued the interest of fans in recent days, mainly because of his impressive lone season with the Bears in 2024. Despite playing for a new team for the first time in his career and working with a rookie quarterback, he recorded 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns. Adding that kind of production coupled with his invaluable veteran experience would be great for Drake Maye in his second season.
Other candidates like Amari Cooper and Stefon Diggs, both of whom have been impressive for almost their entire careers, also remain in the mix for the Patriots. Diggs is coming off an ACL injury, however, with his timeline to return uncertain and Cooper had an underwhelming 2024 season between the Browns and the Bills.
It doesn't necessarily eliminate either from contention to be signed by New England, but there might be more risks involved in doing so than by signing others on this list.
One of the last interesting players is longtime Seahawk Tyler Lockett. Seattle released him after spending 10 years with the team and could be a solid asset for Maye to work with. Despite having a similar player on the roster already in DeMario Douglas, Lockett is an experienced veteran that they don't currently have.
Since then, they haven't had anyone fill that role, mainly because there aren't many players still at that position currently in the league. But perhaps one of the best fullbacks of the last decade has recently become available and there's no reason for the Patriots not to look into signing Kyle Juszczyk.
The 9-time Pro Bowler was recently released from the 49ers after spending eight seasons in San Francisco primarily due to cap space reasons. He's now looking for a new team to be a sneaky good weapon for an offense, and the Patriots could certainly benefit from giving Drake Maye another weapon to work with.
Fortunately, a few players could be solid help at multiple positions, which they need even more after David Andrews' departure.
With that in mind, a guy like Mekhi Becton sits near the top of the list, but mostly because he's a talented player. The problem is that the Patriots already signed a starting right tackle in Morgan Moses, allowing Mike Onwenu to move back to right guard. That makes signing Becton a bit more unlikely unless he can be moved to another position, like left tackle, the position he was drafted as in 2020.
At left tackle, Trent Brown is still available after leaving the Patriots in 2024 but spent nearly the entire following season injured with the Bengals. He's still a trusted option and had one of the best seasons of his career in 2023.
They also have Cam Robinson and Tyron Smith to consider, with the latter being the better option. Smith spent last year with the Jets and recorded excellent grades as a run and pass blocker, both of which were significant weaknesses for the Patriots offensive line last year. That makes Smith one of the more desirable players on the list, as he could hold down at left tackle and allow the team to focus their efforts elsewhere in the draft.
A few notable names available are Brandon Graham, who just won a Super Bowl with the Eagles, Emmanuel Ogbah, who recorded six sacks last year, and Azeez Ojulari, who has shown potential to be a great player if put in a better situation.
If the Patriots want to put their defense over the top and massively improve their pass rush, they should consider these three players, especially before the draft where they are predicted to select a defensive end with one of their early round picks. They could add another solid mentor for him to learn from by adding another veteran to the roster in free agency.
There are a few linebackers worth monitoring, including Eric Kendricks, who might be the most intriguing option of all, C.J. Mosley, and Devin White. Collectively, they could all become impactful players for the Patriots, with Kendricks seemingly having the highest ceiling and most consistent production, elevating their linebacker room to a new level along with their other latest signings of Harold Landry and Robert Spillane.
They could also look to add a trusted defensive tackle like Calais Campbell, who has played with five teams during his 17-year career. While he wouldn't be a long-term answer by any means, he has remained consistently productive against the run and applies pressure to the quarterback at an impressive rate.
Because of injury concerns surrounding Davis, who has never played an entire season during his seven-year career in the NFL, it might be wise for the Patriots to bring someone in who is reliable and productive in case the worst case scenario happens with their latest signing.
Gilmore is still a starting caliber cornerback in the league and could easily swap in for Davis if need be. But he also might be headed toward being a more rotational piece rather than a full-time starter, making him an even more appealing player for the Patriots to bring back.
It all depends on what Gilmore is looking for at this stage in his career and if he hopes to continue being a starter. Regardless, he is still a valuable asset to the defense and a great locker room guy to have around, which is clearly something Vrabel and Co. are prioritizing with their free agency signings thus far.
With the first wave of free agency completed, most of the top players who hit the market this offseason have already signed with new teams. The Patriots made a big splash on the first day of the legal tampering period, signing seven players (mostly on defense) and spending more than half their projected available cap space.
The reaction was primarily positive, given the players they signed which included a couple of the top available players, but there was a noticeable absence of offensive help.
That will inevitably force the new regime to look more heavily into the players still available as the second week of free agency is set to begin. Fortunately for them, there are quite a few top names still unsigned and could be immediate boosts to the offense around Drake Maye, even if they weren't necessarily their top choices.
There are also some notable defensive players looking for new contracts that could pique their interest, given how impactful they could be for what they're trying to build defensively for the 2025 season.
Patriots still have plenty of free agent options to consider signing for the 2025 season
Wide receivers
Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, Tyler Lockett
If the new regime would prefer to sign a free agent receiver rather than either pulling off a blockbuster trade or waiting until the draft, they fortunately still have some intriguing players to look at.Keenan Allen is one of the top remaining names that have piqued the interest of fans in recent days, mainly because of his impressive lone season with the Bears in 2024. Despite playing for a new team for the first time in his career and working with a rookie quarterback, he recorded 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns. Adding that kind of production coupled with his invaluable veteran experience would be great for Drake Maye in his second season.
Other candidates like Amari Cooper and Stefon Diggs, both of whom have been impressive for almost their entire careers, also remain in the mix for the Patriots. Diggs is coming off an ACL injury, however, with his timeline to return uncertain and Cooper had an underwhelming 2024 season between the Browns and the Bills.
It doesn't necessarily eliminate either from contention to be signed by New England, but there might be more risks involved in doing so than by signing others on this list.
One of the last interesting players is longtime Seahawk Tyler Lockett. Seattle released him after spending 10 years with the team and could be a solid asset for Maye to work with. Despite having a similar player on the roster already in DeMario Douglas, Lockett is an experienced veteran that they don't currently have.
Fullback
Kyle Juszczyk
The Patriots used to be a team known for utilizing a fullback on their offense during the Tom Brady era, a position that seems to be slowly but surely going extinct in the NFL. They last rostered Jakob Johnson from 2019 to 2021 after James Develin was forced to retire due to a neck injury.Since then, they haven't had anyone fill that role, mainly because there aren't many players still at that position currently in the league. But perhaps one of the best fullbacks of the last decade has recently become available and there's no reason for the Patriots not to look into signing Kyle Juszczyk.
The 9-time Pro Bowler was recently released from the 49ers after spending eight seasons in San Francisco primarily due to cap space reasons. He's now looking for a new team to be a sneaky good weapon for an offense, and the Patriots could certainly benefit from giving Drake Maye another weapon to work with.
Offensive line
Mekhi Becton, Trent Brown, Cam Robinson, Tyron Smith
With the offensive line being one of the main focuses of this year's offseason, which hasn't looked to be the case so far, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the Patriots to look into those who remain unsigned heading into the second week of free agency.Fortunately, a few players could be solid help at multiple positions, which they need even more after David Andrews' departure.
With that in mind, a guy like Mekhi Becton sits near the top of the list, but mostly because he's a talented player. The problem is that the Patriots already signed a starting right tackle in Morgan Moses, allowing Mike Onwenu to move back to right guard. That makes signing Becton a bit more unlikely unless he can be moved to another position, like left tackle, the position he was drafted as in 2020.
At left tackle, Trent Brown is still available after leaving the Patriots in 2024 but spent nearly the entire following season injured with the Bengals. He's still a trusted option and had one of the best seasons of his career in 2023.
They also have Cam Robinson and Tyron Smith to consider, with the latter being the better option. Smith spent last year with the Jets and recorded excellent grades as a run and pass blocker, both of which were significant weaknesses for the Patriots offensive line last year. That makes Smith one of the more desirable players on the list, as he could hold down at left tackle and allow the team to focus their efforts elsewhere in the draft.
EDGE
Brandon Graham, Emmanuel Ogbah, Azeez Ojulari
Although the defensive line was prioritized in the first batch of signings, there is room to add even more top performers to the Patriots roster. They already signed the best available defensive end, Milton Williams, to the biggest contract in franchise history, and they have room to add even more talent to play alongside him.A few notable names available are Brandon Graham, who just won a Super Bowl with the Eagles, Emmanuel Ogbah, who recorded six sacks last year, and Azeez Ojulari, who has shown potential to be a great player if put in a better situation.
If the Patriots want to put their defense over the top and massively improve their pass rush, they should consider these three players, especially before the draft where they are predicted to select a defensive end with one of their early round picks. They could add another solid mentor for him to learn from by adding another veteran to the roster in free agency.
Defensive line
DT Calais Campbell, LB Eric Kendricks, LB C.J. Mosley, LB Devin White
Sticking with the defensive line, there are still some more great talents to add that would be immediate upgrades for the Patriots next season.There are a few linebackers worth monitoring, including Eric Kendricks, who might be the most intriguing option of all, C.J. Mosley, and Devin White. Collectively, they could all become impactful players for the Patriots, with Kendricks seemingly having the highest ceiling and most consistent production, elevating their linebacker room to a new level along with their other latest signings of Harold Landry and Robert Spillane.
They could also look to add a trusted defensive tackle like Calais Campbell, who has played with five teams during his 17-year career. While he wouldn't be a long-term answer by any means, he has remained consistently productive against the run and applies pressure to the quarterback at an impressive rate.
Cornerback
Stephon Gilmore
The Patriots might be mostly good at cornerback with Christian Gonzalez and now Carlton Davis, but it doesn't seem like a bad idea to, at the very least, inquire about bringing back the former Defensive Player of the Year.Because of injury concerns surrounding Davis, who has never played an entire season during his seven-year career in the NFL, it might be wise for the Patriots to bring someone in who is reliable and productive in case the worst case scenario happens with their latest signing.
Gilmore is still a starting caliber cornerback in the league and could easily swap in for Davis if need be. But he also might be headed toward being a more rotational piece rather than a full-time starter, making him an even more appealing player for the Patriots to bring back.
It all depends on what Gilmore is looking for at this stage in his career and if he hopes to continue being a starter. Regardless, he is still a valuable asset to the defense and a great locker room guy to have around, which is clearly something Vrabel and Co. are prioritizing with their free agency signings thus far.
Patriots addressed defense in free agency: What about the offense?
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Help for Maye? When reporters would pepper former Patriots coach Bill Belichick with questions about his projected starting lineup at this time of year, he sometimes went the deadpan route.
"Long way to go. It's March. We play in September."
Pithy Bill would often serve up a reminder that building a team is a year-round venture -- covering free agency, draft, trades and the waiver wire. Not all the holes were filled right away in March.
The Patriots traded for receiver Randy Moss during the 2007 draft. They claimed future stalwart linebacker Rob Ninkovich on waivers Aug. 2, 2009. They drafted guard Joe Thuney in the 2016 third round and he was a Day 1 starter. Etc. Etc. Etc.
Belichick's patience often, but not always, proved to be a virtue during the team's run of six Super Bowl championships between 2001 and 2018.
His words came to mind after listening to first-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel share his twist on some of the glaring holes on the current roster -- most of which are on offense and especially vital because they directly impact quarterback Drake Maye, arguably the franchise's greatest asset.
The Patriots were planning to swing big for left tackle Ronnie Stanley if he didn't re-sign with the Ravens the day before the legal negotiating period began. They explored the possibility of left tackle Dan Moore Jr. (four years, $82 million in Tennessee). They did swing big on receiver Chris Godwin, who said he left generational money on the table to return to Tampa Bay.
Now what?
"We will target the offensive line. ... We'll continue to look at the wide receiver position as it relates to free agency, explore every option with other teams and potentially then we'll get to the point where we're looking at the draft," Vrabel said Thursday, adding the team doesn't want to be careless and plans to be intentional in its actions.
"There's a lot of time. I know everybody is like 'it's over in free agency.' It's never over."
Vrabel relayed that senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith has been a voice of calm behind the scenes, sharing his experience that desirable players are going to become available, "whether it be now, or May, or after training camp."
Highsmith's message to Vrabel and the staff: There's going to be someone that's currently not on the roster who will help the team win a game in 2025.
At the same time, another legendary coach, Vince Lombardi, once famously said that "hope is not a strategy."
And with that in mind, if the Patriots were playing a game today, they would likely be hoping that Vederian Lowe would protect Maye's blindside at left tackle, 2024 fourth-round pick Layden Robinsonsolidified left guard and fourth-year players Ben Brown or Cole Strange hold down the fort at center.
As for receiver, Mack Hollins or Kayshon Boutte project as the No. 1 options at this point. Veteran Kendrick Bourne and slot option DeMario Douglas also figure notably on the depth chart. And who knows what happens with disappointing 2024 draft picks Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker?
As Vrabel & Co. build the roster (with team culture in mind, too), there are still free agent players for them to consider, such as left tackle Cam Robinson(Jaguars/Vikings), guard Teven Jenkins (Bears) and receivers Amari Cooper (Bills), Stefon Diggs(Texans), Elijah Moore (Browns), Tyler Lockett(Seahawks) and Keenan Allen (Bears), among others.
They attacked the first week of free agency with urgency, titled heavily toward the defense in contracts (eight of their 13 deals) and finances.
The lingering question: What about the offense?
2. Williams as Simmons: The Patriots' vision for how they plan to employ defensive tackle Milton Williams will likely have shades of what Vrabel did with Jeffery Simmons in Tennessee -- moving him all over the line to isolate advantageous matchups.
Vrabel hinted at that when he said: "I think we've been able to put players like Milton, in our history of coaching, in good spots to be productive and make plays that can help the team win."
Williams, who played just 48% of the snaps last season in Philadelphia, seems energized by the challenge.
"I want to be known as doing it all, versatile, Swiss Army knife -- line up anywhere and be productive from any spot," he said.
3. Family day: When the Patriots introduced some of their top free agent signings Thursday, it was more than a passing note that the festivities included not just the players themselves, but also parents, spouses and children. Having them take part in the official signing of contracts, touring the team's facility and sitting in on the media news conference ties to the culture Vrabel is aiming to create.
As part of his remarks in front of reporters, Vrabel looked at newcomers Williams, Carlton Davis III, Morgan Moses and Robert Spillane and said: "We're excited to meet your support system and understand why you are the way you are. We're going to support the things and the people that are important in your life."
4. They said it: "Hopefully we can just play 'cat' coverage -- 'You got that cat, I got this cat and we can go to work.' Just an aggressive style." -- Vrabel, on what he envisions from the one-two cornerback combination of Christian Gonzalez and Davis, who ranked third and fifth in the NFL for lowest completion percentage allowed as the nearest defender in 2024 (per NFL Next Gen Stats)
5. Spillane honors mom: Vrabel shared the story of how Spillane earned his first NFL roster spot on Mother's Day with the Tennessee Titans 2018 as a tryout player, and how impactful it was on him as a young coach to see him share that news with his mother Gretchen through teary eyes.
Then Thursday, when Spillane was signing a life-altering three-year, $33 million contract at Gillette Stadium alongside his wife Shelby and daughter Nina, Spillane told reporters it had special meaning because it was his mother's birthday.
"She's a very important woman in my life, and I just want to make her proud," he said.
Gretchen Spillane was watching on livestream. Tears were flowing.
6. Eyes on Bradbury: With the Patriots releasing center David Andrews with a failed physical designation, and having explored the possibility of signing center Drew Dalman (who ended up in Chicago) in free agency, the status of Vikings center Garrett Bradbury as a potential option bears watching for them.
The Vikings plan to release Bradbury if a trade can't be worked out, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, and it seems unlikely a team will want to take on his $4.9 million base salary. So should Bradbury become a free agent in the coming days, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Patriots sign him.
7. Moses' durability: Moses, the right tackle who signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Patriots despite entering his 12th NFL season at age 34, was praised by Vrabel for his veteran leadership and physical prowess.
Moses has been one of the league's more durable linemen, playing in 166 games with 158 starts, but he sustained a Grade 2 MCL tear, meniscus issue and a small fracture in his left knee in Week 3 last season when then-Patriots pass rusher Joshua Uche rolled up on him.
That led Moses to sleep in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at home as part of a round-the-clock rehab program, and after missing two games, he was back in the starting lineup until the final week of the regular season.
That type of approach made an impression on Vrabel, who said: "There's been a repeated experience of taking care of his body, playing a demanding position."
8. Tracking Gibbens: Free agent linebacker Jack Gibbens is considering making a visit to the Patriots this week, according to a league source, which would make sense considering his background with Vrabel.
Gibbens signed with Tennessee as an undrafted free agent in 2022 out of the University of Minnesota and played in 29 games (20 starts) over the last three seasons, totaling 167 tackles. The Titans didn't tender him as a restricted free agent this offseason, making him free to sign with any team.
9. Jacobs' reward: Offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs was thrust into a tough spot when the Patriots claimed him on waivers from the Broncos in September and ultimately elevated him into a starting role due to injuries and other issues. He endured a challenging season, but it didn't come without a notable personal reward.
Jacobs received a team-high check of $737,221.61 as part of the performance-based pay pool, which is a collectively bargained benefit that compensates all players based upon their playing time and salary levels. That is a little more than 75% of his salary for the entire season ($960,000).
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins ($650,647), left tackle Lowe ($649,495), linebacker Christian Elliss ($612,473) and receiver Boutte ($609,520) rounded out the Patriots' top five.
10. Did you know? Milton Williams ranked sixth in the NFL last season among defensive tackles in pass rush win rate (13.5%). As a position group in 2024, Patriots defensive tackles ranked 21st in pass rush win rate.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Help for Maye? When reporters would pepper former Patriots coach Bill Belichick with questions about his projected starting lineup at this time of year, he sometimes went the deadpan route.
"Long way to go. It's March. We play in September."
Pithy Bill would often serve up a reminder that building a team is a year-round venture -- covering free agency, draft, trades and the waiver wire. Not all the holes were filled right away in March.
The Patriots traded for receiver Randy Moss during the 2007 draft. They claimed future stalwart linebacker Rob Ninkovich on waivers Aug. 2, 2009. They drafted guard Joe Thuney in the 2016 third round and he was a Day 1 starter. Etc. Etc. Etc.
Belichick's patience often, but not always, proved to be a virtue during the team's run of six Super Bowl championships between 2001 and 2018.
His words came to mind after listening to first-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel share his twist on some of the glaring holes on the current roster -- most of which are on offense and especially vital because they directly impact quarterback Drake Maye, arguably the franchise's greatest asset.
The Patriots were planning to swing big for left tackle Ronnie Stanley if he didn't re-sign with the Ravens the day before the legal negotiating period began. They explored the possibility of left tackle Dan Moore Jr. (four years, $82 million in Tennessee). They did swing big on receiver Chris Godwin, who said he left generational money on the table to return to Tampa Bay.
Now what?
"We will target the offensive line. ... We'll continue to look at the wide receiver position as it relates to free agency, explore every option with other teams and potentially then we'll get to the point where we're looking at the draft," Vrabel said Thursday, adding the team doesn't want to be careless and plans to be intentional in its actions.
"There's a lot of time. I know everybody is like 'it's over in free agency.' It's never over."
Vrabel relayed that senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith has been a voice of calm behind the scenes, sharing his experience that desirable players are going to become available, "whether it be now, or May, or after training camp."
Highsmith's message to Vrabel and the staff: There's going to be someone that's currently not on the roster who will help the team win a game in 2025.
At the same time, another legendary coach, Vince Lombardi, once famously said that "hope is not a strategy."
And with that in mind, if the Patriots were playing a game today, they would likely be hoping that Vederian Lowe would protect Maye's blindside at left tackle, 2024 fourth-round pick Layden Robinsonsolidified left guard and fourth-year players Ben Brown or Cole Strange hold down the fort at center.
As for receiver, Mack Hollins or Kayshon Boutte project as the No. 1 options at this point. Veteran Kendrick Bourne and slot option DeMario Douglas also figure notably on the depth chart. And who knows what happens with disappointing 2024 draft picks Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker?
As Vrabel & Co. build the roster (with team culture in mind, too), there are still free agent players for them to consider, such as left tackle Cam Robinson(Jaguars/Vikings), guard Teven Jenkins (Bears) and receivers Amari Cooper (Bills), Stefon Diggs(Texans), Elijah Moore (Browns), Tyler Lockett(Seahawks) and Keenan Allen (Bears), among others.
They attacked the first week of free agency with urgency, titled heavily toward the defense in contracts (eight of their 13 deals) and finances.
The lingering question: What about the offense?
2. Williams as Simmons: The Patriots' vision for how they plan to employ defensive tackle Milton Williams will likely have shades of what Vrabel did with Jeffery Simmons in Tennessee -- moving him all over the line to isolate advantageous matchups.
Vrabel hinted at that when he said: "I think we've been able to put players like Milton, in our history of coaching, in good spots to be productive and make plays that can help the team win."
Williams, who played just 48% of the snaps last season in Philadelphia, seems energized by the challenge.
"I want to be known as doing it all, versatile, Swiss Army knife -- line up anywhere and be productive from any spot," he said.
3. Family day: When the Patriots introduced some of their top free agent signings Thursday, it was more than a passing note that the festivities included not just the players themselves, but also parents, spouses and children. Having them take part in the official signing of contracts, touring the team's facility and sitting in on the media news conference ties to the culture Vrabel is aiming to create.
As part of his remarks in front of reporters, Vrabel looked at newcomers Williams, Carlton Davis III, Morgan Moses and Robert Spillane and said: "We're excited to meet your support system and understand why you are the way you are. We're going to support the things and the people that are important in your life."
4. They said it: "Hopefully we can just play 'cat' coverage -- 'You got that cat, I got this cat and we can go to work.' Just an aggressive style." -- Vrabel, on what he envisions from the one-two cornerback combination of Christian Gonzalez and Davis, who ranked third and fifth in the NFL for lowest completion percentage allowed as the nearest defender in 2024 (per NFL Next Gen Stats)
5. Spillane honors mom: Vrabel shared the story of how Spillane earned his first NFL roster spot on Mother's Day with the Tennessee Titans 2018 as a tryout player, and how impactful it was on him as a young coach to see him share that news with his mother Gretchen through teary eyes.
Then Thursday, when Spillane was signing a life-altering three-year, $33 million contract at Gillette Stadium alongside his wife Shelby and daughter Nina, Spillane told reporters it had special meaning because it was his mother's birthday.
"She's a very important woman in my life, and I just want to make her proud," he said.
Gretchen Spillane was watching on livestream. Tears were flowing.
6. Eyes on Bradbury: With the Patriots releasing center David Andrews with a failed physical designation, and having explored the possibility of signing center Drew Dalman (who ended up in Chicago) in free agency, the status of Vikings center Garrett Bradbury as a potential option bears watching for them.
The Vikings plan to release Bradbury if a trade can't be worked out, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, and it seems unlikely a team will want to take on his $4.9 million base salary. So should Bradbury become a free agent in the coming days, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Patriots sign him.
7. Moses' durability: Moses, the right tackle who signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Patriots despite entering his 12th NFL season at age 34, was praised by Vrabel for his veteran leadership and physical prowess.
Moses has been one of the league's more durable linemen, playing in 166 games with 158 starts, but he sustained a Grade 2 MCL tear, meniscus issue and a small fracture in his left knee in Week 3 last season when then-Patriots pass rusher Joshua Uche rolled up on him.
That led Moses to sleep in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at home as part of a round-the-clock rehab program, and after missing two games, he was back in the starting lineup until the final week of the regular season.
That type of approach made an impression on Vrabel, who said: "There's been a repeated experience of taking care of his body, playing a demanding position."
8. Tracking Gibbens: Free agent linebacker Jack Gibbens is considering making a visit to the Patriots this week, according to a league source, which would make sense considering his background with Vrabel.
Gibbens signed with Tennessee as an undrafted free agent in 2022 out of the University of Minnesota and played in 29 games (20 starts) over the last three seasons, totaling 167 tackles. The Titans didn't tender him as a restricted free agent this offseason, making him free to sign with any team.
9. Jacobs' reward: Offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs was thrust into a tough spot when the Patriots claimed him on waivers from the Broncos in September and ultimately elevated him into a starting role due to injuries and other issues. He endured a challenging season, but it didn't come without a notable personal reward.
Jacobs received a team-high check of $737,221.61 as part of the performance-based pay pool, which is a collectively bargained benefit that compensates all players based upon their playing time and salary levels. That is a little more than 75% of his salary for the entire season ($960,000).
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins ($650,647), left tackle Lowe ($649,495), linebacker Christian Elliss ($612,473) and receiver Boutte ($609,520) rounded out the Patriots' top five.
10. Did you know? Milton Williams ranked sixth in the NFL last season among defensive tackles in pass rush win rate (13.5%). As a position group in 2024, Patriots defensive tackles ranked 21st in pass rush win rate.
