4. Matt Milano
The Patriots need to make up ground on the Bills inside their own division if they want to make the playoffs in 2021. That’s why stealing a free agent from Buffalo might appeal strongly to the higher-ups in New England.
Milano isn’t a physical presence at linebacker, but his ability to hold up in single coverage against running backs will make him a hot commodity in free agency. The Bills will struggle to free up the cap space required to keep him. That gives the Patriots a unique opportunity to swoop in and steal him away from their division rivals.
Dont’a Hightower’s return after opting out of the 2020 season should give Belichick’s linebacking corps a major boost, but they still need to add a guy capable of helping them in coverage. Milano will be one of the top options available on the open market this offseason.
That doesn’t mean he’s going to get paid a fortune in free agency. Quite a few teams will shy away from him because of his struggles in the tackling department. New England can afford to overlook that significant flaw. Landing Milano for anything less than $10 million per season would be a significant win for the Patriots.