5 players Patriots could pursue amid report about team looking to add an ‘elite defender’
With over $100 million in salary cap space, the Patriots are reportedly in the market for an impact player on defense.
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Amid the annual NFL Combine in Indianapolis, the Patriots are reportedly interested in pursuing a top-tier defensive player.
New England’s first-year head coach Jerod Mayo and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf are in the market for “at least one elite defender”, according to the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed. This player would presumably be a current NFL player and “would start immediately” for the Patriots, per Callahan and Kyed.
While no specific position is named, Callahan and Kyed noted New England could use a replacement for the recently released cornerback J.C. Jackson. The pair also mentioned the possibility of losing linebacker Josh Uche to free agency.
On top of those names, safety Kyle Dugger is another player the Patriots could lose this offseason. The team has reportedly already made an offer to Dugger, according to MassLive.
Cornerbacks Alex Austin and Myles Bryant are also set to become free agents and could land elsewhere following impressive 2023 seasons from both players.
NFL teams cannot officially sign free agents until Wednesday, March 13. However, teams can trade players before then. Clubs looking to receive compensation for players who will hit free agency anyway could be looking to swap players and draft picks over the next two weeks.
Some names who could fill the Patriots’ potential needs and are set to hit the free agent market this month include the following.
LB Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Josh Allen has spent his five-year NFL career with the Jaguars. Coming off a career year that featured 17.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 33 quarterback hits, the 26-year-old will surely be a hot commodity in the league’s free agent pool.
After starting all 17 games for Jacksonville, Allen’s 2023 performance earned him his second Pro Bowl nod.
If the Patriots do lose Uche to free agency, adding Allen to the team’s already strong defensive unit would become even more explosive.
LB Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers
Brian Burns is another option at linebacker if New England needs to replace Uche.
Similar to Allen, Burns has spent his entire career with the team that drafted him, the Panthers, to this point. Burns, who turns 26 in April, was one of the few bright spots for Carolina in 2023.
His eight sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and 18 quarterback hits put fear in opposing offenses. Burns is another edge defender who will surely receive interest from plenty of teams looking to put him in a better position to win.
S Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If New England loses Dugger in free agency, Antione Winfield Jr. should be at the top of the list for potential players to replace him.
The 25-year-old has spent all four of his professional seasons with the Buccaneers and won Super Bowl LV alongside Tom Brady in 2021. Winfield was named a first-team All-Pro this past season for his performance.
He led the NFL in forced fumbles with six in 2023 and even recorded the same number of sacks. Winfield was the only safety to record more than five sacks last season.
CB Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Considering the Patriots are already lacking at the cornerback position and could lose two more in a couple of weeks, the team should be in the market for someone to play alongside Jonathan Jones.
Jaylon Johnson, a member of the Bears since 2020, is arguably the top cornerback set to hit the free agent pool. Johnson, who turns 24 next month, deflected 10 passes in 2023 and picked off opposing quarterbacks four times in 14 games.
In his four-year NFL career, Johnson has yet to allow opposing receivers to catch 60 percent of the passes thrown their way when he’s covering them. He allowed opponents he was defending to score just two touchdowns last year.
CB L’Jarius Sneed, Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl LIV champion L’Jarius Sneed is another top cornerback who could be looking for a new home if he doesn’t sign an extension with the Chiefs. The Patriots should be interested in signing him if that is indeed the case.
Sneed was lockdown for Kansas City in 16 regular season games in 2023 – he deflected 14 passes and registered 60 solo tackles, including five for loss. The 27-year-old allowed only 51 completions on 100 passes thrown to receivers he was lined up with last season.
One area of Sneed’s game the Patriots would want to improve is the number of penalties committed. Last season, 18 penalties were accepted by the Chiefs via Sneed (including playoffs). Eight of those were pass interference calls and six were holding flags.
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