New England Patriots: An Eye on Upcoming Free Agents
Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
It’s never too early to look ahead in the NFL. Upon concluding the Super Bowl victory parade on Wednesday, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will soon shift his focus to free agency and the various other offseason duties. It’s just the nature of the business.
The new league year doesn’t officially begin until March 10, but the Patriots have a lot of work to do in regards to their own upcoming free agents before other teams are allowed to negotiate with them. They have 11 players in total set to hit the free agent market.
Here’s a look at the free agents and how they performed in 2014.
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Ridley was unfortunately lost to a knee injury early on in the season. However, he was productive in the six games he did play. Ridley tallied 340 yards and two touchdowns. He’s an explosive runner and someone the Patriots would certainly benefit from having moving forward, but their success in the run game doesn’t hinge on re-signing him.
RB Shane Vereen
Vereen finished the regular season with 391 yards rushing and two scores, although he was mostly utilized in the passing game, racking up 52 catches for 442 yards and three scores. His most productive effort came in the Super Bowl as he torched the Seahawks with 11 catches. Vereen’s a vital cog in the offense. Re-signing him is a must.
TE Steve Maneri
Maneri saw very little game action. He was brought in towards the season’s end and served his purpose in providing depth off the bench.
OL Dan Connolly
Connolly was one of the Patriots’ most consistent offensive linemen. The unit functioned at its best with him in the lineup. He’s not a flashy player by any means, but he protects Tom Brady and blocks well when they run the football. He simply does his job. I’m sure the team would like to bring him back, though upgrading at the position wouldn’t hurt either.
DT Alan Branch
Branch joined the Patriots with several swirling question marks regarding prior behavioral issues. He settled in nicely and served as a key player along the interior of the defensive line. He tallied 20 tackles, seven of which came in the playoffs. The Patriots could cheaply bring him back as a nice rotational piece.
DE/LB Akeem Ayers
Ayers proved to be a dynamic addition to the defense after coming over from the Titans in a trade. He productively filled in when Chandler Jones was on the shelf. He finished the season with 23 tackles, four sacks and one interception. When it comes to pass rushers, one can never have enough depth. Ayers’ ability is a worthy investment.
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LB Chris White
White served as key special teams player on both punt and kick packages. He notched seven tackles.
Casillas was brought in from Tampa Bay at mid-season. He spent most of his time playing on special teams, but also saw a decent amount of action at interior linebacker. Casillas showed tremendous awareness and an understanding of the defense when called upon to fill in for Dont’a Hightower.
McCourty, the longest tenured member of the secondary, has provided the team with a stabilizing presence along the backend for several seasons. He possesses great instincts and leadership. McCourty tallied 68 tackles, two interceptions, six pass defenses and one forced fumble in 2014. They’d certainly like him back in the fold for the future.
A reliable field-goal kicker is hard to come by in the NFL, especially ones who produce under pressure. Gostkowski hit 35 of his 37 attempts this past season. He’s a career 86% kicker with the Patriots. He also passed Adam Vinatieri as the all-time points leader in team history. He’ll be a priority to re-sign.
LS Danny Aiken
Aiken is another key special-teamer who excels at his craft. He’s reliable and does his job as well as any long snapper in the game.