With Bill Belichick motivated, the New England Patriots will make some noise in what will become a memorable offseason whether for good reason or bad.
Perhaps that in itself is a bold prediction, but in exploring what the Patriots will and can does through the avenues of free agency, trades and the 2021 NFL Draft, there will be some opportunities out there to help the team improve on both sides of the football.
What will Belichick do to address his quarterback situation? Will that include Cam Newton?
Which big-time free agents will he bring in? What trade is out there that no one in the NFL will see coming?
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So many questions, so many intriguing rumors and predictions, but let’s start the revelation of 5 uniquely bold predictions for the 2021 NFL offseason by starting with an internal situation involving a restricted free agent.
New England Patriots reward J.C. Jackson with a big contract
Whether it’s a long-term deal or simply matching an offer made by another team, Belichick and the New England Patriots know what they have in emerging cornerback J.C. Jackson and he will be rewarded.
With all the needs to address this offseason, Belichick will see an opportunity to trade Stephon Gilmore and make Jackson the No. 1 corner.
An undrafted free agent in 2018, Jackson has showcased his skill and confidence in each of his first three seasons with the Patriots.
With a career 17 interceptions in those three seasons, including a team high 9 in 2020, the University of Maryland product is ready to take over the reins of the No. 1 corner role and if the Patriots don’t lock him up, some other team will be ready, especially since Jackson believes he hasn’t even reached his full potential.
"“I feel like I’m not even at my highest level yet,” Jackson said following the season, via Boston.com. “I’ve still got some room to improve and have some things I need to work on.”"
Describing himself as a “ballhawk,” Jackson will get paid and it will be the Patriots who play him because Jackson’s development is classic Bill Belichick.
Pay Jackson and move on from Gilmore. It’s will be that simple.
New England Patriots lose James White to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers
Veteran running back James White has played his last game in a New England Patriots uniform.
As one of the team’s more reliable offseason weapons, White had a down year statically in 2020 partly due to the tragedy he endured early in the season when he lost his father in a fatal car accident.
With his mom surviving the accident, the Florida native may seek an opportunity to play for a team in the sunshine state to be closer to family. That is setting up a Tom Brady and James White reunion as the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers will most likely be in the market for a pass-catching running back like White.
With Damian Harris, Sony Michel and J.J. Taylor under contract, the Patriots may have a decision to make between soon-to-be free agents White and Rex Burkhead. While bringing back a team co-captain would appear to be the logical choice, money may lead Belichick away from White and to bring Burkhead back on a cheaper deal.
It may annoy fans, but White down in Tampa reunited with Brady is a uniquely bold prediction because it will be more the New England Patriots moving on from White than White simply choosing more money.
Like Shane Vereen, the Patriots will move on from White with both Michel and Taylor capable to moving into that role. In fact, Michel showcases his pass-catching skills towards the end of the season, which spelled doom for White’s future in New England.
New England Patriots actually re-sign Joe Thuney
The New England Patriots will actually re-sign Joe Thuney to a long-term deal.
It will be a deal that will shock fans and the NFL as the offensive guard seems like he will be too expensive for the Patriots to retain.
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But, as one of the players who holds that offensive line together, paying both center David Andrews and Thuney will be a priority for the Patriots who will be able to do so by trading guard Shaq Mason.
In a bold trade move, Bill Belichick will move Mason in order to pay Thuney. It may involve another player or a draft pick, but Mason will be easier to replace than Thuney would be.
With the emergence of Michael Onewu and players like Justin Herron and 2020 opt-out Najee Toran vying for playing time at the guard positions, the Patriots should have enough versatility along that offensive line to fill the hole that would be left if they trade Mason.
Even if right tackle Marcus Cannon retires, the Patriots also have 2019 third-round pick Yodny Cajuste waiting to make a contribution. While the quarterback and skill positions will be a focus this offseason, Belichick will make sure his O-line is intact by shelling out the dough for Joe Thuney.
New England Patriots free agent surprise signing: JuJu Smith-Schuster
The New England Patriots will make a surprise free agent signing and it will actually be a wide receiver.
The uniquely bold prediction here is that Bill Belichick will actually lore pending free agent receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster away from the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 24-year-old playmaker inspired by the opportunity to be the man in New England.
Though Smith-Schuster has recently declared his desire to retire in Pittsburgh, the NFL is a business, and the Steelers may not offer the Smith-Schuster the money he feels he deserves due to their current cap situation, the Patriots could move in on a receiver who fits the mold of what they are looking for in a top receiver.
In 2020, Smith-Schuster caught 97 passes for 831 yards and 9 touchdowns. More of a possession receiver with big play potential, the Patriots could get the fifth-year receiver back to the level he was at in 2018 when he broke out for 111 catches for 1426 yards.
Of course, this is going to all depend on who is throwing him the ball. The New England Patriots may need to have a top-level quarterback in place to lore a player like JuJu Smith-Schuster unless they make him an offer he simply can’t refuse.
Knowing the history of Bill Belichick the GM, he will not pay top of the market for a wide receiver, so it may take convincing Smith-Schuster that he will be the focal point of the offense. If Belichick believes in him, he’ll make it happen and shock the NFL on Day 1 of free agency.
New England Patriots draft Mac Jones in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft
Speaking of quarterbacks, the New England Patriots will draft a quarterback in the draft, just not where many are expecting it.
In this uniquely bold prediction, it is not who the Patriots draft, but where they will be able to select him.
We are talking Alabama quarterback Mac Jones here.
Projected anywhere from the top 10 to the second round, the Patriots will pass on Jones at No. 15, but don’t worry, he’ll still be there when Bill Belichick selects in the second round.
His friendship with Nick Saban and former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss won’t allow him to pass up on the Mac Jones twice.
In fact, here is what Weiss said about Jones as a perfect fit for the Patriots during a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
"“What are the two most important components of a star quarterback? They have the ‘it’ factor. And they’re accurate,” Weiss said during the interview, via NBC Sports. “That’s who he is."
With a 77.4 percent passing accuracy rating during his 2020 season with the Crimson Tide, Jones is definitely the quarterback for Belichick would aim for that high in the draft.
In other words, don’t freak out if the New England Patriots don’t take a quarterback in the first round because the QB they may be targeting will fall to them in the second round.