The Patriots need a strong offseason to return to the playoffs in 2023. Letting these four free agents depart would be a strong start for New England.
Bill Belichick isn’t fond of losing and he will push the Patriots’ front office to make several win-now moves this offseason. New England will need to make quite a few clever additions to Belichick’s roster if they want to return to the playoffs next year.
The organization also needs to realize when the time is right to let some of its own free agents depart. Overpaying mediocre players is a great way for the Patriots to become mired in the middle of the NFL standings for years to come. The following four free agents should be looking for work outside of Foxborough this offseason.
4. Raekwon McMillan
The former second-round pick played in 16 games as a reserve middle linebacker for the Patriots this season but he wasn’t very effective in that limited role. Some fans might want to see him return to New England because of his name value, but overpaying a backup middle linebacker would be a costly error by the team’s front office.
After all, Ja’Whaun Bentley is one of the team’s top defenders and he should play the lion’s share of snaps at the middle linebacker spot. The Patriots can easily find a reserve capable of filling McMillan’s role from this season via a late-round draft selection or a low-cost veteran in free agency.
McMillan didn’t play well enough this season to merit a roster spot even if he’s interested in returning on a minimum deal. The Patriots need to let him walk and find an upgrade.
3. Isaiah Wynn
The Patriots believed they had a long-time starter on their hands when they drafted Wynn in the first round back in 2018. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued the former Georgia standout through much of his NFL career. It’s time for New England to find a more reliable player to man the right tackle position.
That could turn into a costly proposition, but it’s worth the resources required for the Patriots. Mac Jones needs a comfortable pocket if he’s going to produce quality results. Wynn’s lack of availability and questionable play last season was a major reason why New England’s aerial attack suffered from inconsistency.
Several NFL teams would be hesitant to part ways with a former first-rounder, but Belichick isn’t a coach that stands on sentiment. If he believes an upgrade can be secured in the offseason he won’t hesitate to cut ties with Wynn and allow him to make a fresh start elsewhere.
If Wynn does hit the open market he’ll have plenty of suitors based on his talent level, but that shouldn’t be enough to keep him in New England. The right tackle position is too important to continue to entrust to such an unreliable option. The Patriots can and should do better in the offseason.
2. Nelson Agholor
Pass protection was a problem for the Patriots last year, but the lack of options at wide receiver was a bigger reason why the offense failed to put points on the board. The idea that Agholor could function as a No. 1 wideout was a clear error in the team’s planning.
The former first-round pick only managed to catch 31 passes for 362 yards with a pair of touchdowns. That’s nowhere near the production required for a starter on the outside. Agholor has the speed teams look for to stretch the field vertically, but the reality is he just isn’t productive enough to be a starter.
Wide receiver is another position that deserves investment this offseason by the Patriots. Spending a hight draft choice on a true No. 1 wideout who can grow alongside Jones should be a priority for the team. Keeping Agholor on the roster would only serve to take away snaps from a young player who needs them to develop.
Some team will gamble on Agholor’s speed again this offseason, but the Patriots should have learned their lesson in 2022. He isn’t the answer to their problems on the outside and should be allowed to leave without a second thought.
1. Devin McCourty
Letting McCourty go would be a painful move for Belichick, but it’s time to let the Patriots’ legend leave for more lucrative pastures. New England is not in the proper position to spend big on a 35-year-old safety.
Instead of spending big on McCourty, the Patriots should make the decision to re-sign Jabril Peppers instead. He’s a different type of safety, but he was the slightly more effective of the two players in 2022. His price tag should be considerably lower than what McCourty is looking for on the open market.
It’s always possible McCourty could be willing to take a hometown discount to stay in New England, but absent that, the Patriots have to find a long-term solution at his position. McCourty can still help a Super Bowl contender on a short-term deal, but New England needs to be in the business of long-term planning in free agency.
It will pain plenty of Patriots fans to see McCourty leave the team in such an uninspiring way, but that’s the business of football. Letting him and his $9 million salary leave in free agency is the right move for New England.