The New England Patriots have a lot of work to do this offseason. Fresh off a playoff appearance in 2021 that didn’t go the way the team would have liked it to, a solid offseason could quickly make New England a serious contender in the AFC next season.
While it’s not realistic to expect everything to get done in just one offseason, Patriots fans at least expect some of the holes that flared up on this team will get fixed during this period. It’s clear that this group needs more playmakers on offense, and some youth on defense, but that isn’t going to be achieved with just one or two moves. Not to mention, the Patriots have a crop of 20 free agents themselves, and not all of them are going to be suiting up for the team next season.
Retaining some of those free agents will be key to keeping the forward momentum going. The 2020 Patriots squad was tough for all to watch, but the 2021 team, led by rookie quarterback Mac Jones, quickly made everyone forget that team even existed. They were back in the playoffs after just one season, and while the result didn’t go their way, that doesn’t mean that all hope is lost.
One area of the team that could realistically be solved with just one move though is the wide receiver room. Depending on how free agency goes for New England, they may not have a lot of cap space, but if they end up letting cornerback J.C. Jackson walk, that frees up a lot of money, and that money could be used to bring in a top wideout. In the event that cash becomes available, let’s take a look at three wide receivers the New England Patriots could target in free agency.
New England Patriots free agent target No. 3: Michael Gallup
The play pictured above was the last one Michael Gallup took part in during the 2021 season. Gallup would come down with this pass for a touchdown, but he ended up tearing his ACL in the process, and would miss the Dallas Cowboys final two games. There’s also a good chance this was the last time Gallup suited up for the Cowboys, as he is now set to hit free agency.
Gallup certainly did not have the contract year he was expecting to have going into the season. He only played in nine games, and even then his numbers were down thanks to the emergence of Cedrick Wilson (35 REC, 445 YDS, 2 TD). With Wilson joining Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb, there’s really no room for Gallup on the Cowboys roster, and while his payday probably isn’t going to be large as it could have been, Dallas can live without giving him a new deal.
That’s OK for Gallup, because there are plenty of wide receiver needy teams out there, and New England is one of them. Gallup has proven he can a top tier wide receiver when he isn’t fighting with guys like Cooper and Lamb for targets, and he would instantly be that guy for the Pats. Gallup’s 2019 season (66 REC, 1107 YDS, 6 TD) is what’s going to earn him his money, and pairing him up with Kendrick Bourne and Jakobi Meyers could help him get back to those numbers.
Gallup obviously has some injury concerns with his ACL, which could scare off some suitors. His decline in play can be attributed to the emergence of Wilson and injuries, so it will be a bit of a risk to bring him into town. Even then, Gallup could still fetch a deal worth upwards of $10 million, although it will probably only be two/three years max so he can hit the market again and hopefully land a bigger contract.
Gallup has never really been the go-to guy throughout his career, and he wouldn’t necessarily have to be with the Pats. Meyers has proven to be a solid slot guy, and if the team feels comfortable rolling with him, they could take a flier on a guy like Gallup and hope he develops into the top wide receiver he looked capable of being back in 2019. He’s probably not going to be their top target, but Gallup’s upside makes him a player worth considering heading into free agency.
New England Patriots free agent target No. 2: Christian Kirk
Christian Kirk chose a good time to have his best season as a pro in 2021. He finished with 77 catches for 982 yards and five touchdowns, and he formed a pretty formidable duo with DeAndre Hopkins (that is when Hopkins was healthy). With some unrest taking place with the Arizona Cardinals currently, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them move on from the young wideout as they search for a better fit alongside Hopkins.
Now, saying Kirk isn’t a great fit alongside Hopkins and Cardinals QB Kyler Murray isn’t a diss on his skills. The Cards rely a lot on Murray’s ability to make big plays, primarily with Hopkins, and not getting the ball out quickly to a slot guy like Kirk. Kirk put up good numbers with Arizona, but he could probably do even better on a team that truly fits his skillset. The Patriots are that team.
Throughout New England’s history, there has almost always been a go-to slot receiver who could be relied upon to pick up a first down conversion on a 3rd & 6. Those were guys like Troy Brown, Wes Welker, and Julian Edelman. When Edelman retired, that left a big hole at slot wideout, and it wasn’t ever replaced. Kirk could end up being the perfect replacement.
Kirk’s ability to get open out of the slot isn’t something that has gone unnoticed. While he didn’t get a ton of looks on underneath routes in 2021, he established himself as a bigger downfield presence, and his fit is exactly what the Pats need. He can get open on short throws when needed, but he can also take the top off the defense when needed too.
Kirk is probably looking at a similar deal to what Gallup could get (2/3 years, around $10 million), although he could actually benefit from Gallup’s injury and have a bigger market for himself. Either way, that’s a deal worth making, as Kirk is a solid scheme fit whose ability to get open whenever needed could help unlock the offense’s full potential. He isn’t the flashiest name, but Kirk is one of the best pure fits in the New England Patriots scheme on the free agent market.
New England Patriots free agent target No. 1: Allen Robinson
Of the flashy names on the market, Allen Robinson probably comes in at the bottom of that group. That would certainly be the case when looking at his 2021 production, as Robinson put together arguably the worst campaign of his career (38 REC, 410 YDS, 1 TD). After stating multiple times that he is unhappy with the Chicago Bears, it seems safe to say the sides are set for a departure, opening the door for a team like the Patriots to swoop in and grab a top tier wide receiver.
Robinson is probably one of the unluckiest wide receivers in the NFL at this point. He’s spent his entire career with the Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars, two of the most inconsistent franchises in the league. Guys like Blake Bortles and Mitch Trubisky are household names, but not for good reasons, and without Robinson catching their passes, things probably would somehow be even worse for them.
Robinson probably will be looking to join a team with a competent quarterback, and Jones proved he was such in his rookie campaign. With an up-and-coming team and an abundance of targets just waiting to go to a top guy like Robinson, there are more than a few reasons he could circle New England as a potential destination for himself.
Robinson is your prototypical outside the numbers wide receiver. He’s big, good at identifying and beating different coverages, and most importantly, he can catch the football. He’s pretty much what this team hoped N’Keal Harry could become, and we all know how that went. Not only would Robinson quickly turn himself into Jones’ top target, he would open up targets for Bourne and Meyers as well.
Based of his 2021 season, it’s safe to say Robinson’s value has decreased to an extent. He will still probably get around $15 million per year, but that’s a figure that New England could work with. Everyone around the league knows he’s an extremely talented pass catcher, it’s just a matter of getting him a solid quarterback.
Robinson offers the potential of a 100+ catch, 1000+ yard receiver, and that’s exactly what this team is missing. He’s been a matchup nightmare throughout his career, and that’s been with subpar quarterback play. Give him an accurate passer like Jones, and he’s going to show the league what he’s capable of. Here’s hoping the New England Patriots see things the same way and at least send an offer his way.