New England Patriots 2021 defensive line playbook: Who stays, who goes
New England Patriots: Who stays, who goes – Byron Cowart, Defensive tackle.
Byron Cowart is a second-year player for the New England Patriots.
Cowart didn’t do much of anything last season his first in New England. This season, he has some impact with 27 or so tackles and a sack. That’s not much for a player that started 13 games. If this is starting to sound familiar, it is.
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It basically exemplifies the Patriots’ defensive line outside of Guy. They are there. They play. But they don’t really produce much at all, nevermind excel, and become difference-makers. They are anything but, even Guy, who is the best of the bunch.
Bryon Cowart is a lower draft pick who is another of these players who may be an NFL-quality player but will never really be what you are looking for in your defensive linemen. It’s called production. You really can’t expect too much from payers at the level of a Cowart. Occasionally they deliver the goods you’d hope, but it shouldn’t be expected.
If the Patriots are really looking to have an impactful defensive line they either have to draft a top defensive lineman or two high or sign one in free agency.
Cutting ties with a lot of older high-priced players and non-productive types will allow you to sign a couple or maybe a few impact players. One position in which they need to do just that is on the interior defensive line.
Byron Cowart is a decent roster-type player. He’ll never be a star but can be a back of the rotation type who fills a backup spot.
But if he is called upon to start games (13 or 14 this season) in the future, the Patriots’ defensive line will continue to be mediocre, at best. This team has to move on from mediocrity to draft or sign in free agency players who will perform up to a championship level. Right now on the defensive line, they don’t have that level of player.
Bryon Cowart probably stays.
Next. New England Patriots 2021 offensive playbook: Who stays, who goes. dark
Appendix:
Beau Allen.
Beau Allen was brought in ostensibly to replace Danny Shelton and his previously-mentioned excellent production at nose tackle in 2020. Allen was paid nearly $4M in 2020 and never played a snap due to injury. Seems the Patriots can save a decent amount on the cap (about $2.85M?) by parting ways. This should be among the easiest calls on the roster.
Beau Allen goes.
Next up, the Linebackers/Edge players.