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Bill Simmons vents frustrations about ‘super cheap’ Patriots amid slow offseason
"Meanwhile, we’re going to pass up a franchise QB. And not spend money. Great.”
Expectations were high for the Patriots entering this free-agency feeding frenzy.
With New England sitting atop the league with over $100 million in cap space entering this offseason, the Patriots were poised to shore up several areas of the depth chart by bringing in top talent.
But even though New England has retained several key contributors already on its roster like Mike Onwenu, Hunter Henry, Kyle Dugger, and Kendrick Bourne, the Patriots haven’t exactly stolen headlines with outside talent on the open market.
After coming up short in the free agency sweepstakes for Calvin Ridley last week, New England’s lone addition to their receiving corps has been former Vikings pass-catcher K.J. Osborn.
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Even with the Patriots second among NFL teams with $54.6 million in remaining cap space this offseason (per Over The Cap), there are few remaining top targets in free agency — especially at critical areas like wide receiver and offensive tackle.
According to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, New England might already be turning to the 2024 NFL Draft in order to add key pieces to the roster.
Such a strategy doesn’t sit well with longtime Boston sports scribe and “The Ringer” founder Bill Simmons, who posted a one-minute rant about the Patriots on YouTube Sunday.
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“I’m trying to figure out what the Patriots are doing. Right now, they have the most money to spend of any team in the league, but free agency’s basically over,” Simmons said. “They have the third, I think 35th, 68th, and 103rd picks out of the top 105. They don’t have a future QB. They don’t have a left tackle. They don’t have an impact receiver. Their only above-average skill position guy is Rhamondre Stevenson, who’s not even a top-10 running back. They’re a D+ offense. New coach. They’re the cheapest team in the last 10 years for spending.
“And I guess my question is, is this just going to be the Patriots until Bob Kraft dies? Just super cheap. They’ve spent the least amount of money the last 10 years. They let Brady go, then they blame Belichick for that. And now it just feels like they’re going to trade backwards from No. 3 and get a bunch of picks and tell everyone how smart they are. And meanwhile, we’re going to pass up a franchise QB. And not spend money. Great.”
Simmons’ comments were delivered amid reports that the Vikings were interested in trading up for New England’s No. 3 pick, although a new report on Monday stressed that the Patriots have not “shown an appetite” for moving down from that coveted draft spot.
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But even if New England does hold onto that No. 3 pick and take a quarterback like Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, the Patriots still need to shake the reputation of not being a top spender in the NFL over the last few years.
NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry — citing ESPN — noted that the Patriots rank last in the NFL in cash spending over the last 10 years ($1.62 billion).
That narrative surrounding the Patriots prompted Robert Kraft to push back against said sentiment while speaking with local media ahead of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas last month.
“I can assure our fans that spending will never be held back or the reason that we don’t sign players,” Kraft said. “Winning football games, after my family, is the most important thing in my life. Whatever we can do to help make that happen, we’re going to do. I’m sorry this misconception has been out there.”
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