The New England Patriots can save multi-millions on the cap by cutting ties with defensive backfield veterans and that’s the course that should be taken.
New England’s defensive backfield is populated by several excellent defensive veterans who are highly-priced with significant hits on the team’s cap space. Their high cap situation will severely crimp the team’s ability to hit the free-agent market hard in areas of even more need.
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Going big in free agency is a must for a Patriots team that needs an infusion of talent at many positions, especially at offensive skill positions. One of the areas on the team that will have to be impacted is cutting ties with several veteran high-priced defensive players, and it won’t be easy.
The defensive backfield has been reputed to be the strongest unit on the team, along with the offensive line (if it can ever stay healthy).
Yet, they are older and overpriced at this time, and therefore the recommendations will be to cut ties with several and to go with youth at those positions.
Over the years tough cuts like Lawyer Milloy and free agency losses like Ty Law were undertaken. No one said these would be easy.
New England Patriots Safety Devin McCourty
Devin McCourty is a perennial Captain, a great guy, and a still effective player as a free safety in the New England Patriots defensive backfield. He’s an 11-year Patriots veteran and one of the team’s All-time top players and a sure-fire red-jacketed Patriots Hall of Famer.
Indeed, McCourty is still a solid performer with 68 tackles and 2 interceptions in 2002. Yet, he will be entering his age 34 season in 2021. While his overall salary is $11.150 million, the Patriots will only save $2.550 million on the salary cap by cutting McCourty.
With McCourty still playing at a solid level, it would really make little sense to cut ties with the veteran to save that little on the cap. The problem is the whopping $8.6 million in dead cap space that would have to be absorbed.
This is an example of how roster/cap tinkering can sometimes be a hindrance to a team moving on from a high-priced veteran a year too early rather than a year too late as it the saying around the New England Patriots.
With that in mind, McCourty is likely to still be manning the center-field position for the Patriots defense in 2021 and that’s not a bad thing at all.
As was aforementioned, he’s still playing at a high level and his experience, leadership, and overall aura as a New England Patriot make the investment in McCourty a solid if increasingly more cap-costly one.
The decision on McCourty would certainly have been swayed if his cap savings were closer to that of Dont’a Hightower at some $9.945 million. At a level near that one, McCourty would certainly have been expendable.
Devin McCourty stays.
New England Patriots Cornerback Stephon Gilmore
Rumors abounded at the trade dealing that New England Patriots super cornerback Stephon Gilmore, one of the top NFL cornerbacks may have been on the trading block. Helping to possibly fuel those suspicions, it was reported that Gilmore had put his house on the market.
Gilmore is an All-Pro-level cornerback but his cap hit as he enters his age 31 season and 10th year in the league is certainly lofty at $15,014,584.
Gilmore had a less-than-stellar 2020 playing only 11 games due to injury with his interception total dropping from six in 2020 to one last season.
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With J.C. Jackson exhibiting Pro Bowl talent on the other side, the question can legitimately be asked if it may be time to trade the All-Pro Gilmore. A team or two may feel they are on the cusp of a deep playoff run and may be willing to trade a really good player and/or draft picks to fill a more urgent need(s) for New England.
It has been made quite clear in these pages that with the Patriots dismal draft history in mind, a proven player who fits a need like a top-flight wide receiver or tight end might be a great exchange for both teams. It is definitely worth considering due to the financials.
Cutting ties with Gilmore would gain the Patriots $7,343,750 in cap space while still saddling them ostensibly with $8.92 million in dead cap money. That notwithstanding, the nearly $7.5 million in cap space could certainly be utilized in any number of areas of greater need that abound on the club.
While sending out an All-Pro caliber player at any time (even after a down season) is risky business, the New England Patriots are in need not just of a makeover, but a complete remodeling. Post-Tom Brady, their club is going nowhere in a hurry.
So while it may hurt, having cornerback Jackson in the fold (more of his status as a restricted free agent later), is a good place to be. The Brady fiasco necessitates a complete reconstruction of this team.
Tough choices need to be made. This is one of them.
Stephon Gilmore goes in a trade.
New England Patriots Cornerback Jason McCourty
Jason McCourty, like twin brother Devin, is entering his age 34 season. While he should always be remembered for a very likely game-winning play in the Super Bowl against the LA Rams, McCourty is an unrestricted free agent and has to be considered a long-shot to remain with the team.
While he had a respectable 42 tackles last season, he logged zero interceptions. In addition, his cap hit last season was a healthy $5.55 million.
That significant amount can certainly be used to shore up positions on the team that are in dire need of an infusion of both youth and more urgently, talent. McCourty can be replaced as a depth cornerback by Jonathon Jones.
A player such as third-year pro, JoeJuan Williams, a second-round draft pick, should be in line for this spot, but he’s not (more on that later). Yet, McCourty is still expendable and the $5.5 million can certainly be applied elsewhere to enhance positions such as anywhere on offense and the defensive line and linebacker crews.
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While it will be unfortunate to see McCourty leave, there is always an opportunity that he could agree to stay to play alongside his twin brother. That would take a major reduction in salary for it to be in any way feasible for New England however, but who knows?
Interestingly, with New England’s decidedly poor personnel management operation, one of the few areas in which they have excelled is in identifying undrafted free agents who actually can play and even be productive.
The names Malcolm Butler and Jones readily come to mind. They will likely be able to identify a candidate or two this offseason or one from a previous season who can fill in for McCourty.
Jason McCourty goes in free agency (unless he signs for a substantially lower salary).
New England Patriots Cornerback J.C. Jackson
J.C. Jackson is a true personnel management success story for the New England Patriots, and as this writer is not reluctant to point out, there have been many stories of the opposite variety on a yearly basis by the team.
The acquisition of cornerback Jackson as an undrafted free agent ain’t one of them. He’s been quite the opposite. A true find of Pro-Bowl caliber.
As noted above, the New England Patriots seem to have an undeniable ability to sift through the flood of undrafted free agents after the NFL draft and to discover gems amongst those who were otherwise deemed not draft-worthy. Jackson is clearly one of those, and one of the best. Maybe ever.
Jackson came aboard in 2018 undrafted from Maryland. He is an RFA this offseason.
He has proceeded in his three years in the league for New England to amass 17 interceptions, nine of which came in 2020, and the nine came while starting only 11 games. That’s what’s called production.
Jackson started strong with New England and has progressed every year to the point where it is not a stretch to say that he was the team’s best cornerback in 2020.
Why he hasn’t been signed to a long-term extension yet is a legitimate question, but that should in no way change the necessity for the New England Patriots to pay Jackson this offseason and beyond. There is no way New England should offer Jackson anything less than a first-round tender.
It’s clear as the lens on the Hubble telescope that Jackson has to have a first-round tender and has to be re-signed to a multi-year contract. If not, it will be a mistake of the highest order.
J.C. Jackson stays and is re-signed to a multi-year contract.
New England Patriots Cornerback JoeJuan Williams
Unfortunately, like so many Patriots second-round defensive backs selected in the past, Williams has been a bust to-date.
He has logged only 23 tackles, no interceptions, and no starts in his first two (and maybe last two?) seasons in New England. He has to be termed a flop at this point.
Williams was a second-round draft pick. Because of that fact, he’ll likely remain with the club for another year, deservedly or not.
As one who has questioned the efficacy of New England’s personnel operation for quite some time, the Williams case is amongst the many draft failures that have cost the team dearly.
All of those draft failures over the years signify that personnel mismanagement has cost the team games. And, likely Super Bowl wins, as well, while they were manned by the current quarterback of Tampa Bay.
This author has written only partially tongue-in-cheek that the Patriots should deal all of their top picks in this season’s draft (maybe in every draft to get one great player) to move up to get a young quarterback who will lead the team in the future.
This club drafts atrociously in any high round much of the time. Why not roll the dice for the best quarterback attainable (give up three first-round picks plus if necessary if they can get one of the best) and stock up on late-rounds picks.
Therein, as in the undrafted free agency, they seem to be able to find diamonds in the rough (Michael Onwenu, in last year’s sixth-round) regularly. Roll the dice on a quarterback and fill in later. They can’t do any worse.
Williams goes if they can get some lower round picks for him. (Likely, he says because he was a second-round pick and would further embarrass the team if traded.)
New England Patriots Cornerback Jonathan Jones Cornerback
Jonathan Jones has been with the New England Patriots for five seasons and has been a solid addition to the team. He is another of those undrafted free agent signings in the defensive backfield that New England seems to have a knack for finding. Frankly, they should never draft another defensive back.
Jones had a respectable two interceptions in 2020 to go along with a whopping 74 tackles. While he’s not a superstar talent in waiting like Jackson, he’s a solid pro and contributor to the New England Patriots defense.
Jones was an immediate force on special teams entering the league playing alongside one of the all-time greatest special teams players in the history of the league, Matthew Slater. His blistering speed was immediately apparent on punt return coverage.
Slater is a sure-fire Patriots’ and should-be Pro Football Hall of Famer, but if he should retire, Jones may very well assume the gunner role on special teams. He’s one of the fastest Patriots and along with Slater has been a force on those squads.
In addition to special teams, Jones has proven to be a versatile addition to the defensive backfield. He could be a starter with not very much drop off in production if called upon if some of the other higher-profile players depart or are injured.
If not, he’ll remain a dependable, solid if not spectacular member of the defensive backfield. Jones can start if necessary but his versatility, playing both corner and safety at times makes him a truly valuable member of the defensive secondary. He isn’t going anywhere.
Jonathan Jones stays.
New England Patriots Appendix: The rest of the cast
Just a brief mention of the following players who are of lesser importance than those previously outlined. Terrence Brooks, Justin Bethel, Cody Davis, D’Angelo Ross, and Myles Bryant. Most are squad/bench/special teams players.
None of these players really made an impact on the Patriots’ defensive backfield in 2020 and most could be let go without much consequence.
Brooks had two starts and 23 total tackles. Bethel played in 16 games with 14 tackles. Davis played in 14 games with 9 tackles. Ross didn’t play a snap. Bryant played in nine games with 12 tackles and an interception. Brandon King hasn’t played since 2018.
One last point, don’t count out Bryant or Ross as having a potential future role with the Patriots. They were undrafted free agents who just might surprise in the future.
After all, that’s one area where the Patriot’s personnel operation actually gets it right occasionally.