6 rings & football things: Andy Hart & Mike Kadlick break down the stars of "The Dynasty" so far
With the NFL’s franchise tag window opening last week, the NFL Combine beginning this week, and free agency just around the corner, here are seven thoughts and nuggets surrounding the Patriots’ as their most important offseason in two decades continues to roll on:
1 - NFL Combine week marks Eliot Wolf’s first appearance in his role.
The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium this week, with the event taking place from February 26th through March 4th.
Along with the Patriots’ shuffle at head coach this offseason came a shuffle in the front office as well. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport Eliot Wolf, the Patriots’ director of scouting over the last several seasons, is essentially working as New England’s general manager and “will be in charge of the personnel department, with control of the 53-man roster working closely with Jerod Mayo.” He also added that former director of player personnel Matt Groh will mostly handle college scouting – Wolf’s previous position.
Given Wolf’s role as the de facto head of New England’s personnel department, he’ll speak with the media at the Combine this week, per Patriots PR. It’ll be our first time hearing from him in his new position.
2 - What else to watch for at the NFL Combine.
With the Patriots holding the No. 3 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, team ownership has called it “the most anticipated,” of their tenure – and it all starts in Indy.
Of the 321(!!) prospects will go through the ringer this week with on-field drills and off-field interviews, I outlined 44 of them to watch for WEEI.com last week.
From a 30,000 foot view, it’d be wise to keep a close eye on the quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive lineman this week, three positions that Jerod Mayo seemingly thinks are a major need:
"We're going to take the best available player for the biggest need on the team,” he told WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show last month. “Offensive line, receiver, quarterback -- pick your [choice].”
3 - Salary cap increase gives Patriots even more spending power in 2024.
The NFL announced on Friday that their salary cap rose a record-breaking $30 million per team for the upcoming season, something they attributed to a “full repayment of all amounts advanced by the clubs and deferred by the players during the Covid pandemic as well as an extraordinary increase in media revenue for the 2024 season."
So what does it mean for the Patriots?
Well, according to Patriots salary cap guru Miguel Benzan (@patscap on Twitter) the team now holds $87.3 million in cap space heading into 2024, second to only the Washington Commanders. They can also reportedly bring themselves to over $100 million in space if they release cornerback JC Jackson, a move many expect the team to make.
4 - Kendrick Bourne is set to test the open market
One of the pending free agents the Patriots could shell some of that cash out to is wide receiver Kendrick Bourne.
Bourne, who spent the last three seasons in New England, tore his ACL against the Dolphins in late October of last season but is reportedly expected to be ready to start 2024.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Bourne will test the free agent market where “strong interest is expected” and after his agent put social media into a frenzy this week after posting a picture at Gillette Stadium on Instagram, it was reported by the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan that Bourne was also in the building, but “negotiations between the Patriots and Bourne have not advanced since the team approached his camp about re-signing shortly after the receiver tore his ACL in late October.”
5 - Will the Patriots use the franchise tag?
Along with the NFL’s increased salary cap number came their franchise tag costs for each position in 2024. Here’s a look:
The Patriots have 24 pending free agents, with plenty worthy of an extension and a franchise tag including safety Kyle Dugger and tackle Mike Onwenu. Should New England tag Dugger, it would cost them $17,123,000 on a one-year deal Mike Onwenu would cost them $20,985,000.
Hunter Henry, who is also a pending free agent, could be a franchise tag option as well. His number, however, actually sits at $18.6 million, as opposed to the listed ~$12 million, due to his 2023 salary of $15.5 million. A player can’t take a paycut on the franchise tag, so in this case it is 120% of his previous years salary.
Regardless, they have options.
6 - Back to work.
Several Patriots are back to work this offseason, training in various parts of the country.
Heading into his fourth year, quarterback Mac Jones is starting his offseason training at H5 Sports Barn in Aledo, Texas.
Punter Bryce Baringer and kicker Chad Ryland are working out together with former NFL kicker Nick Novak in San Diego, California.
Defenders Marte Mapu and Deatrich Wise Jr. are also working together in Cali.
Matthew Judon is getting ready for 2024 with trainer Nik Shomonek following a torn biceps injury in 2023.
7 - What to expect from The Dynasty New England Patriots episodes 5 and 6 coming this Friday.
Parts five and six of The Dynasty: New England Patriots will debut this coming Friday on Apple TV+. Episode five, titled “Torn”, focuses Tom Brady’s ACL injury to start the 2008 season and episode six, titled “At All Costs”, dives into the draft selection and ultimately the fallout of Aaron Hernandez in Foxborough.
It’s interesting hearing Brady talk about what he went through both physically in recovery and emotionally following his ACL tear. It also gives us our first look at Brady’s body coach and longtime business partner Alex Guerrero.
The Hernandez episode? Incredibly dark, sad, and gut-wrenching. It’s a tough watch.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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