New England Patriots: Thoughts on the Alan Branch Re-signing
The New England Patriots added Stephon Gilmore on Day 1 of free agency, but the re-signing Alan Branch was an important move.
Alan Branch has reached a deal with the New England Patriots.
As first reported by CSNNE’s Michael Giardi Thursday, the Patriots and Branch have agreed to a 2-year deal worth $12 million.
Source tells me Alan Branch is finalizing a 2 year deal to stay with the Patriots. @CSNNE #patriots
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) March 9, 2017
With much of the attention this free agency period on Dont’a Hightower, the Malcolm Butler situation and the ever-swirling Jimmy Garoppolo trade rumors, this was an important move by the defending Super Bowl champions for a couple reasons.
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First, Alan Branch brings veteran leadership and stability to the defensive line. In 2017, he was the team’s most reliable and consistent interior defenders. Not only did he start all 16 games in 2016, he has started 31 of the 32 games he has played in a Patriots’ uniform over the last two seasons.
Clogging up the middle
Secondly, Branch is coming off probably his best season in the NFL. He was the main force in leading the team to the No. 3 rush defense in the NFL. He collected 49 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and had the key fumble recovery in Super Bowl LI. More importantly, his toughness rubbed off on young defensive tackles Malcom Brown and Vincent Valentine.
Overall, Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has stabilized the interior of the defensive line with locking up the 6-foot-6, 350-pound Branch. Depending on what happens with Hightower, having that player who can plug the holes with consistency will be key to what the team will and can do on defense in 2017.
Belichick knows the importance of Branch and praised his consistent play throughout the season.
"“Branch, by far, has been our most consistent tackle,” Belichick said back in January, via ESPN. “Those other guys can shoot to get up to his level.”"
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Hopefully, Branch’s dependability, consistency, leadership and production will indeed rub off on both Brown and Valentine.