Patriots news & rumors: Belichick ‘ready to spend’; Fitzpatrick to Foxboro

Get ready for New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to open his wallet according to one NFL insider.

During an appearance on “Get Up” on Thursday Morning, ESPN’s Field Yates believes Belichick with the fourth-most cap space in the NFL going into this offseason will be a very motivated wheeler and dealer, particularly in free agency.

With the biggest question this offseason being the quarterback situation along with the highest first-round pick the team has seen in over a decade, Yates believes Belichick will be on a mission to turn around the team’s 7-9 season in 2020 by taking advantage of that cap space.

"“You look at teams, like, for example, the Patriots, who are flush with capital this offseason in terms of cap space,” Yates said, as transcribed by NESN.  “This is a team that could have 60-plus million dollars in cap space if they do nothing.  That number could balloon if they make a couple of cuts on their own.  And let me ask you something that’s a rhetorical question: Do you think Bill Belichick want so to 7-9 again next year?  Yeah, we know the answer to that question.”More from Chowder and Champions3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster DeadlineMLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 SeasonRed Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win"

With upgrades needed in some key positions other than quarterback, there is no doubt Belichick is “ready to spend,” as Yates further detailed.

Given his age and the fact he has something to prove after a down year without the great Tom Brady, don’t expect the Patriots coach to completely go all in on a rebuild.  He will scan the trade market and free agency with a vision to revamp and re-tool this current roster into a contender.

NFL rumors: Ryan Fitzpatrick a free agency fit for the New England Patriots

As much fun as it would be to see veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick actually play for every AFC East team, New England Patriots fans won’t be too thrilled on the free agency fit NFL.com is predicting for their quarterback hungry team.

That’s right, NFL.com writer Marc Sessler, in his article “2021 NFL free agency matchmaking: One fit for each AFC team,” has Fitzpatrick bring his talents to Foxboro.

While Sessler’s matchmaking skills are to be questioned here, he does have a pretty strong argument as to why this free agency match makes sense for the Patriots:

"“The Patriots have $60 million-plus in green, but Bill Belichick remains an unpredictable figure in the mist. New England’s mastermind could shop ‘til he drops to upgrade a bare-cupboard offense — or go AWOL on his little sailboat, VIII Rings, before signing only James O’Shaughnessy. My guess is they’ll make a serious move for one of the draft’s top passers while adding a Bridge Dude. Find me a better Bridge Dude on terra firma than Fitzy!”"

If the Patriots draft one of the top 4 quarterbacks, yes this makes sense.  Fitzpatrick would be an upgrade given the quarterback play the team got in 2020 as far as passing the ball.

But, at age 38, would setting, (yes settling) for Ryan Fitzpatrick really be Belichick going for it now while building for the future?

Again, unless they somehow get in position to draft a Zach Wilson or Justin Fields or Trey Lance Falls down to them, the Patriots more than likely won’t have a young quarterback in position to start in 2021 unless the mastermind in Belichick orchestrates something big on draft day.

With NFL free agency taking place before the draft, if Belichick does sign Fitzpatrick, then it would be a given they are going all in on a quarterback in the draft.  Of course, the draft could also dictate signing a veteran bridge quarterback if the Patriots have no one in place come draft night.

Fitzpatrick could be a free agent still lingering around unsigned into the summer.