Ask and ye shall receive!
Eventually, at least.
Patriots fans and even media types across New England have been clamoring for years for Bill Belichick to spend Robert Kraft’s hard-earned salary cap money like he was bidding on Tom Brady rookie cards on the internet.
In a spending spree that would make his spring 2007 splash blush, Belichick gave Patriot Nation exactly what it wanted Monday afternoon mere March hours into the “legal tampering” period in the NFL which allows teams to agree to terms with would-be free agents.
New England, with more than $60 million in 2021 salary cap space at its disposal won the day. Won the month. Hell, probably won all of free agency.
Now, though, we’ll have to wait quite a while with some QB-related doubt, to see if the Patriots can turn it all into actual, meaningful winning on the field this fall.
Regardless, in a matter of about three hours Belichick doled out nearly $150 million dollars in order to target his lackluster team’s To-Do List of biggest needs.
After shunning reporters in the months of his first playoff-free offseason since 2008, Belichick let Kraft’s checkbook do his talking.
Former Tennessee tight end Jonnu Smith -- adding arguably the second-best player in free agency at his position to arguably New England’s biggest need – got a four-year deal worth a reported $50 million with $31.25 guaranteed.
In any other year, any normal start to free agency in Foxborough, that would have been more than enough to appease the Patriots masses. But, living up to NBC Sports Boston’s prediction that the Patriots would be “uncharacteristically aggressive” this time around, Belichick said hold my Bud Light Lime and made the money rain down over others.
Next came former Dolphins defensive tackle Devin Godchaux for two years and a possible $16 million with $9 million reportedly guaranteed. Not the biggest name or the biggest money for a guy who missed most of last year to injury, but certainly filling a big need for a defensive line cupboard that was close to bare.
But wait, like some well-produced Kraft Sports infomercial, there’s more!
Without garnering as much attention as the offensive pass catcher problem, the defensive front seven was maybe as big a need. Not anymore, not with former Ravens edge playmaker Matt Judon – a thorn in New England’s side in recent years – heading to Foxborough on a reported four-year, $56 million deal with $32 million over the first two years for the OLB/DE type who combined for 15.5 sacks the last two years in Baltimore on the way to a pair of Pro Bowls.
Even a little versatile depth was added to the back end of the defense in the form of former Eagles cornerback/safety Jalen Mills, himself getting a four-year deal worth a reported $24 million with $9 million guaranteed.
None of the deals on an individual level are earth shaking, either financially or in terms of impact. None of the new faces is a Hall of Fame talent.
But all target very specific needs with talented, relatively young players who combine to make the Patriots best free agent class in more than a decade, with free agency technically still more than a day away from actually opening up!
Do Patriots fans have Belichick’s age to thank for Monday’s spending spree? After all he’s not getting any younger.
Is Tom Brady’s successful Super Bowl run to a seventh ring in Tampa Bay what drove the free agent fun?
Or, more likely and less diabolically, is this simply a case of preparation meeting opportunity?
Belichick told us last fall that he was resetting the salary cap after years of going all in. The only reason to do that is to get back to work, to getting on rebuilding a once-great team with an injection of young free agent talent.
The Patriots had lot of holes on the roster. They had lots of money to spend. There were plenty of options on a free agent market depressed by a shrunken salary cap due to COVID.
It was the perfect storm. And Belichick’s Patriots were the storm.
Is the work done?
Nope.
There is still as massive hole on the wide receiver depth chart.
And even with Cam Newton re-signing earlier this week, the quarterback position remains every much a question mark.
But, the Patriots are a better team on paper now than they were just a few hours ago.
No one can deny that, even the most ardent of wet blanket Patriots haters.
In a few months we’ll all find out if the big spending actually pays off.
For now, though, we celebrate winning the month of March, with the possibility of winning the month of February once again still a goal on the long term horizon!
Belichick gave you all what you’ve been asking for.
Rejoice!
