The end of the 2021 season has some lamenting the free-agency spending spree the Patriots went on last spring as a failed experiment. New England didn't win a playoff game this past season and had to sit out much of the off-season sweepstakes this time around because of how tight they are to the salary cap.
But a few players from last year's record haul have proven more than worth the money.
Pro Football Focus salary cap expert Brad Spielberger credited the Patriots with two of the NFL's 32 best value contracts heading into this year: wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (17th overall) and Matthew Judon (20th).
Judon, who signed a four-year, $54 million deal last spring, matched Chandler Jones for the most sacks in a season by any player under Bill Belichick (12.5) and was arguably the best player on New England's roster in 2021. He now has three years and $34.5 million left on that deal.
Amazingly, the 30-year-old is just 19th overall at his position in total guaranteed money ($32 million) and 24th in average salary per year ($13.625 million).
Similarly, Bourne outplayed the three-year, $15 million deal he signed last season by a significant amount. The now-sixth-year pro set career-highs in catches (55) and yards (800), matched his career best in touchdowns (5), and created big plays (20+ yards) at the fifth-highest rate of all receivers in the NFL last season. He also had the third-best catch rate in the league (78.6%), proving his reliability to Mac Jones during the quarterback's rookie season.
If you thought Judon was a great value, think about this: Bourne is currently 43rd among receivers in per-year average ($5 million) and 62nd in guaranteed money ($5.25 million). Essentially, the Patriots got solid veteran production out of a player making almost rookie-deal money.
Also, for as much consternation as Nelson Agholor’s contract has received after a lackluster first season in Foxborough, his contract is still just 27th in average value per year ($11 million) and 37th in total guarantees ($16 million). If his play picks up in 2022, he might be looked at as a strong value by the end of the year as well.
The Patriots will certainly need to spend more at the top of the market next season to keep pace with the rest of the AFC East, which bulked up substantially in 2022. But for now, they've at least proven they can still know how to grab a bargain or two when they're out shopping.
