New England Patriots free agency 2021: Top 5 targets

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JANUARY 03: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 3, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - JANUARY 03: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 3, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
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Patriots free agency news, Matt Milano
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 28: Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills looks on during warmups before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

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.