As is the case every season, the 2020 Patriots will look a lot different than the 2019 Patriots.
Part of this is the team will not be able to bring back all of its own free agents. Once Monday comes, these players are free to negotiate with any other team and then come Wednesday can start signing with any other team.
The Patriots have a number of big decisions to make besides just Tom Brady.
Here’s a list of the Patriots’ unrestricted free agents along with a percentage of the likelihood that they will return.
QB Tom Brady- Of all the rumors over the last several months, the majority of them have the quarterback leaving New England. But, over the last few days there’s been some talk Brady may not have as many options as first thought. It’s getting time for Bill Belichick and Brady to air everything out to each other and come to a conclusion.
S Devin McCourty- The veteran safety will definitely have a market, but with his twin brother Jason locked in with the Patriots for 2020, as well as playing his entire career with New England, a return seems most likely at this point.
LB Kyle Van Noy- The outside linebacker already has a few teams showing interest and that could grow over the next week or so. Coming off a 6.5 sack season, Van Noy will likely be able to cash in on a big deal and if that’s in fact what happens, he’s as good as gone.
ST Matthew Slater- Even though he’s a free agent for the second time in the last three years, it’s maybe even more difficult to imagine him in another uniform than Brady.
WR Phillip Dorsett- At 26 years old, Dorsett is really just entering the prime of his career. He came back to New England last year on a one-year deal, but it’s hard to see him doing it again. If he gets any kind of offer, it’s likely Dorsett will be playing elsewhere in 2020.
ST Nate Ebner- Belichick seems to have a thing for Ebner, so like Slater it’s hard to imagine him playing for another team. With that being said, how many strictly special teams players is too many?
LB Jamie Collins- Collins may be the most interesting of all the Patriots free agents because he really could go either way. Do teams question why it didn’t work in Cleveland, or do teams just look at what he was able to do with the Patriots? If the Patriots can get him back on a decent deal they likely will do it, but if there’s a solid market for him they would likely be out.
DT Danny Shelton- Shelton is another interesting case since he had a very solid 2019 season and the Patriots don’t really have much depth on the defensive line. He’s another player where if he has a strong market the Patriots will likely be out.
K Nick Folk- The Patriots will not go into training camp with Stephen Gostkowski and Folk. If they do bring in another kicker he will likely be on the younger side.
OL Marshall Newhouse- Newhouse was brought in last season out of necessity and with the team getting some internal options back healthy, he seems like a long-shot to return.
OL Joe Thuney- There’s no question Thuney is one of the best offensive linemen who will be available and will cash in on a big deal. It doesn’t seem likely the team will give big deals to two guards (Shaq Mason), but it does need to protect whoever is playing quarterback. We don't think a return will happen, but you never know with Belichick.
TE Benjamin Watson- The 39-year-old said after the Wild Card loss to the Titans that he would be retiring after 15 seasons.
LB Shilique Calhoun- Calhoun doesn’t seem like a player who will sign with a team right away, so if he’s available in a few weeks and the Patriots still have a need at the edge rusher position, he very well could come back.
OL Ted Karras- With the way he filled in for David Andrews last season, Karras likely created a decent little market for himself that may put him out of the Patriots’ price range.
LB Elandon Roberts- Roberts will be another interesting case as his value around the league is unknown. It seems Belichick likes him, making him a first time captain last season. With Van Noy and Collins having the potential to leave, the Patriots need to start thinking about making sure there’s some stability at the linebacker position.
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