For the first time since 2015, the Super Bowl didn’t include the New England Patriots. Who could Bill Belichick’s team look at during free agency?
It proved to be a much shorter 2019 season than many anticipated for the New England Patriots. A team that had reached the previous three Super Bowls finished 12-4 and hosted the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs. A 20-13 setback meant Bill Belichick’s club would not be playing in the conference title game for the first time since 2010.
Of course, this will be an offseason unlike any other this century for this franchise. Veteran quarterback Tom Brady is a potential free agent for the first time during his storied career. The team has some other prominent players on the list as well (via Spotrac) and as of this writing, ample cap room.
Who knows what this team will look like over the next few months? Could the Patriots be very active during the free agency? And in terms of proved performers, what five players could Belichick and company pursue if and when they become available on March 18?
5. T D.J. Humphries (Arizona Cardinals)
There was certainly a difference when 2018 first-round pick Isaiah Wynn was able to play. After missing his entire rookie campaign with a torn Achilles, he took the field on nine times this past season, including the playoff match-up with the Titans. The 23rd overall pick in ’18 was a solid performer available but availability has been the question mark to date. He started the first two games this past season, went down with a toe injury but returned for the final six contests and the aforementioned wild card clash with Tennessee.
All told, New England’s offensive line disappointed this past year and the issues were numerous – perhaps the biggest being the season-long absence of quality center David Andrews. The Patriots’ ground game slumped to 18th in the NFL after running for the fifth-most yards in the league one year earlier. There would be no successful playoff run with Belichick’s team relying on power football.
Tackle D.J. Humphries has been a big disappointment for the Cardinals since they used the 24th overall pick on him in 2015. But could the young performer – who has seen action at both left and right tackle and was a 16-game starter this past season – revive his career as a swing tackle in Foxborough and be had for a bargain price?