New England Patriots: Why 2020 opt-outs will not be huge factor in 2021

On occasion, one hears from national pundits that the New England Patriots who have loaded up on free agents and added quality in the draft will also be getting back a bunch of their opt-outs from 2020 due to Covid-19.

The answer to that comment is, well, it’s really not accurate.

Let’s take a look.

The New England Patriots opt-outs due to coronavirus in 2020:

"The New England Patriots’ league-high eight opt-outs, due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, are official: tackle Marcus Cannon, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Patrick Chung, tight end Matt LaCosse, running back Brandon Bolden, fullback Dan Vitale, receiver Marqise Lee and guard Najee Toran. The Patriots did not see any new opt-outs on the final day of the deadline."

Who won’t return from among the New England Patriots 2020 opt-outs

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Well, already, we know that several of the Patriots’ opt-outs won’t be back to contribute to the team for a number of reasons.

First, Marcus Cannon was traded to the Tennessee Titans for almost nothing.

While that trade looked OK at the time, the Patriots neglecting to draft an offensive tackle high in the draft has made that trade look worse in retrospect.

The Patriots punted on a tackle until drafting a small tackle or maybe guard in Will Sherman from Colorado in the sixth round.

So Cannon’s loss looks worse now as the Patriots are thin at backup tackle and the future is tenuous in light of the fact that one starter is on a one-year deal, Trent Brown, and the other Isaiah Wynn has two years left on his deal.

Second, Starting strong safety Patrick Chung has retired. Chung was a solid cog in the Patriots’ defense for years and his loss was keenly felt last season and will be this season, as well.

Third, fullback Dan Vitale was released by the Patriots recently without ever having played a down for the red, white, blue, and silver.

Fourth, receiver Marqise Lee was also released after failing a physical and won’t be back to the team.

Fifth, offensive lineman, Najee Toran was also released by the Patriots further whittling down their offensive line depth though who really has an inkling if he could have contributed anything.

That leaves three possible returnees from the eight who opted out last season.

Matt LaCosse, a tight end who was one of the no-names in that group in 2019 ostensibly will at least be around for a while.

LaCosse is a journeyman who caught 13 passes in 2019 probably further exacerbating old No. 12’s frustration with his supporting cast that season before he headed for greener pastures.

Nothing too much is to be expected from LaCosse who is well down on the depth chart, especially if New England tries to save face on the two unproductive young tight ends taken in the 2020 draft’s third round.

That’s six of eight from whom nothing is really expected in 2021.

Next up is running back/special teams player Brandon Bolden who enters his age 31 season. That’s pretty good longevity for a running back. Yet, he’s really just a special teamer.

Bolden isn’t much of a ball carrier actually although he did gash the Patriots for a big 54-yard touchdown in 2019 which doomed the Patriots’ playoff chances by taking away a bye week, thank you.

In 2019, Bolden had 13 carries and gained 68 yards with a nice total (for the Patriots, at least) of three TD’s on the ground. Suffice it to say, he’s an afterthought in the offense especially now with Rhamondre Stevenson, a fourth-round pick and big back on board.

Since Bolden evidently is a Bill Belichick favorite who can play special teams, he may make the team. But frankly, he shouldn’t.

That’s seven out of the eight players who either are gone or frankly won’t add much if anything to the 2021 version of the New England Patriots.

Dont’a Hightower is the key opt-out for the Patriots

That last of the opt-outs is truly an impact player and he is really the only returnee who will make an impact if he can play at anywhere near his previous level. That would be Dont’a Hightower.

Hightower is a solid all-around linebacker who can basically do everything required of a Pro-Bowl level player at that position. He’s also a big-play guy who’ll make the biggest plays in the biggest games at the biggest times.

Hightower’s loss in 2020 was felt dramatically along with the loss of Kyle van Noy who fortunately for the Patriots has re-signed with the club.  If both return, they will make a material impact on the second level of defense along with newcomer Matt Judon, a hybrid linebacker/edge player.

The big question is whether Hightower will return or possibly retire? He’ll be in his age 31 season and has a lot of miles on the tires as they say so his return is not guaranteed at all.

Questions are being asked rightfully so and we’ll know when the mandatory camps begin if he actually will return. Hopefully, he will because he is a tremendous asset.

So, that’s a roundup of the eight 2020 opt-outs due to Covid-19 and their status for 2021. In reality, there is only one player whose return is now a possibility who will make any significant difference whatsoever. That’s Hightower unless Chung decides to change his mind and un-retire.

So all the bluff and bluster about the Patriots also having this boatload of good players returning from opt-out is a mirage. There is one and that’s Hightower. His return would be important.

If not, it will sting, indeed, but other than Hightower, there isn’t anyone else who’ll really make much of a difference at all in that list. It’s just a lot of smoke and mirrors. The reality is what it is.