6 rings & football things: mike kadlick talks to fitzy & lyons on the patriots trading mac jones
The Patriots are in the process of setting themselves up for a slow, methodical rebuild to eventually sustain success. Since finishing the 2023-24 season with a 4-13 record, they’ve made the following changes as an organization:
– Parted ways with Bill Belichick
– Hired Jerod Mayo as head coach
– Effectively promoted Eliot Wolf to GM
– Traded their used-to-be franchise quarterback Mac Jones
New England has also cut several veteran players including Lawrence Guy, Adrian Phillips, and J.C. Jackson, putting them in the $100+ million range in terms of salary cap for 2024 – good for the most space in the NFL.
These are all moves that, clearly, set them up for a full reset rather than a patchwork turnaround. As currently constituted, the Patriots don't warrant unnecessary expectations of contending for Super Bowls, but rather patience for eventual sustained success.
Frankly, given the amount of roster holes they have, it’s unfair to expect them to return to dominance overnight. Jerod Mayo even spoke to this at the combine last month:
“I don’t want to call it a slow burn because we will be competitive,” Mayo explained. “We will put a good team out there. Will we win a championship? I don’t know, and I don’t want to make those promises. But at the same time, I feel confident about our plan to really turn this ship around.”
While this is all well and good, let's have some fun. What if the Patriots did want to contend ASAP? (I’m talking like, contend for Super Bowl LIX ASAP) With free agency unofficially opening on Monday, here’s one realistic(ish) way they could turn it around by next season – even if it means ignoring said sustained success:
(Note: We will use the below cap numbers from @reinhardNFL on Twitter/X for cap hit purposes):
– Sign QB Kirk Cousins.
With plenty of holes on the offensive side of the ball, one way the Patriots reportedly plan on filling one, according to MassLive, is by selecting one with the No. 3 overall pick and pairing him with a bridge quarterback in free agency.
If they’re looking to win Super Bowl LIX, however, then they should look towards a quarterback with a winning upside and long-time NFL starting experience.
Enter Kirk Cousins.
Cousins enters 2024 free agency coming off of an Achilles injury and will be 36 years old once the season begins, making him a short-term answer -- but potentially a great one.
Since joining the Vikings in 2018, Cousins has a 50-37-1 record as a starter and has become an elite-level passer in the process. He's thrown for 23,265 yards, 171 touchdowns, and 55 interceptions over the last six seasons. Minnesota also qualified for the postseason under his lead in 2019 and 2022.
Projected 2024 salary cap hit: $42.6 million
– Protect Cousins with OT Tyron Smith.
One of the top offensive lineman set to hit the open market this week is Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith. Smith, 33, is undoubtedly on the back-nine of NFL career and while he hasn’t played a full season since 2015, is arguably a top-three left tackle when healthy. In fact, he was the sixth-highest graded tackle in 2023 according to Pro Football Focus.
While Smith wouldn’t be the long-term answer at left tackle in Foxborough, he’d immediately be a plug-and-play blindside blocker for Kirk Cousins and co. on offense.
Projected 2024 salary cap hit: $18.6 million
– ‘Weaponize’ the offense with WR Calvin Ridley.
With the top supposed-to-be free agent wide receivers in Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman Jr., and Mike Evans staying with their respective teams, Jaguars Calvin Ridley has emerged as the top pass catcher on the market.
Ridley (6-foot-1) burst on the scene to start his career in Atlanta and after being traded to the Jaguars last trade deadline, returned from suspension and tallied a 76-catch, 1,016 yard and eight touchdown campaign in Jacksovnille in 2023.
The Patriots are “definitely in the market” for a veteran wide receiver according to CBS Sports Josina Anderson and according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, they’re expected to “swing big” at Ridley in free agency.
Kirk Cousins' WR1.
Projected 2024 salary cap hit: $23.2 million
– Add short-term RB depth with Saquon Barkley.
While I’ve always been a believer in the “never give a running back a second contract” philosophy, the parameters change in this ‘Super Bowl or bust’ exercise.
As currently constituted, the Patriots running back room consists of just three running backs in Rhamondre Stevenson, Kevin Harris, and Ja’Mycal Hasty, so they’ll undoubtedly address the position in either free agency or the draft.
How about Saquon Barkley? The 27-year-old is one of the better running backs in football and after signing a one-year, $10 million deal to stay with the Giants last offseason, is set to hit the open market this week.
Barkley would not only be able to handle the load as a runner, but would also add a serious threat to the passing game. His peak, albeit as a rookie, was a 91 catch, 721 yard, four receiving touchdown campaign in 2018. Last season, he hauled in 41 balls for 280 yards and four receiving scores.
He’d immediately give you the best 1-2 backfield punch in the NFL alongside Stevenson.
Projected 2024 salary cap hit: $10 million
– Trade for CB La’Jarius Sneed.
The Kansas City Chiefs placed the franchise tag on cornerback La’Jarius Sneed last week but, according to multiple reports, are now listening to trade offers for him.
After re-signing Alex Austin on Thursday, the Patriots’ cornerback room consists of Austin, Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Isaiah Bolden, Shaun Wade, and Marco Wilson. It’s top-heavy with Gonzalez and while he’ll likely lock up one half of the field, pairing him with Sneed on the opposite side and using Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones in the slot would give you an elite backend.
A Sneed trade would likely include a new contract at around the $16 million range per year.
Projected 2024 salary cap hit: $15.9 million
– Re-sign OL Mike Onwenu.
Don’t forget the internal guys!
New England has already re-signed both Hunter Henry and Kendrick Bourne to three-year deals prior to free agency opening. Why not make it one more with another key offensive piece in OL Mike Onwenu.
Onwenu is set to hit free agency for the first time this week and the versatile offensive lineman is looking to command tackle money as opposed to guard, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Onwenu has started 56 games for the Patriots at both tackle and guard over the last four seasons and has excelled in both roles. For the sake of the exercise, we’re going to use the above cap guide and call his right tackle hit $14.1 million. A more than reasonable number that bookends him with Tyron Smith on the other side.
Projected 2024 salary cap hit: $14.1 million
– Draft WR Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 3 overall.
Oh yeah, the Patriots also hold the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Though the plan is to take a quarterback, they don’t have to anymore with Kirk Cousins at the helm. Instead? They select the most pro-ready player in the class in Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
Harrison, standing at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, is considered among the top five overall prospects in the 2024 Draft class and is widely viewed as the No. 1 pass catcher. The former Buckeye hauled in 67 passes for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023 after a 77/1,263/14 slashline the season prior. He won the Fred Bilentnikoff Award this past year as the nation's top wide receiver.
– The results:
Here’s what the new-look, Super Bowl-contending Patriots would look like following the above moves:
Offense:
QB: Kirk Cousins
RB: Rhamondre Stevenson
RB: Saquon Barkley
WR: Calvin Ridley
WR: Marvin Harrison Jr.
WR: Kendrick Bourne
TE: Hunter Henry
LT: Tyron Smith
LG: Cole Strange
C: David Andrews
RG: Sidy Sow
RT: Mike Onwenu
Defense:
DL: Christian Barmore
DL Davon Godchaux
DL: Deatrich Wise Jr.
DL: Keion White
LB: Matthew Judon
LB: Ja’Whaun Bentley
LB: Jahlani Tavai
CB: Christian Gonzalez
CB: La’Jarius Sneed
S: Kyle Dugger
S: Jabrill Peppers
Oh yeah, the total of the cap hits for Cousins, Smith, Ridley, Barkley, Sneed, and Onwenu? $124.4 million. Making this (at least semi) reasonable with some accounting, manipulation, signing bonuses, etc.
Super Bowl LIX champions? Contenders? You be the judge. Let me know on Twitter/X @mikekadlick, or email me at michael.kadlick@audacy.com to air out your complaints 🙂.
Happy free agency. Let the games begin.
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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