FEELING THE HEAT
4 Pats under the most pressure after free agency
The post-free agency euphoria is finally, albeit slowly, wearing off in New England. While the draft will provide another shot of excitement soon, eventually life will go back to businesslike.
When the Patriots reconvene for on-field work during OTAs and minicamp, a few players will find themselves in much different standing compared to when they last played in 2020. That’s what happens when a front office reloads the roster, shelling out more than $300 million worth of new contracts. On the whole, the Pats improved.
But what’s best for the team is not always optimal for each player.
Here are the four Patriots under the most pressure to perform post-free agency.
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
Dont’a Hightower’s reported return already put a cap on Bentley’s projected 2021 playing time in February, and mid-March did him no favors.
By signing linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Raekwon McMillan, the Pats have essentially forced Bentley to fight for backup scraps at inside linebacker. Unlike Van Noy, the former fifth-round pick can only play off the ball, which decreases his value along with his limited special teams impact. Sans Bentley’s system experience, McMillan is a comparable player at a similar stage of his career.
Not to mention, Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings are expected to make significant second-year leaps in 2021, after playing both inside and on the edge as rookies.
Bottom line: Bentley is entering a contract year with minimal hopes of a breakout. Two of his three best performances last season — at Los Angeles and Miami — were games when he played 25 snaps or fewer, something that surely isn’t lost on the coaching staff. If Bentley can’t beat out McMillan in training camp, he might lose his roster spot.
WR N’Keal Harry
Harry is hot on Stephon Gilmore’s heels as the Patriot rumored to be on the trading block this offseason.
The former first-round pick has been an undeniable bust the past two years, barely eclipsing 400 total receiving yards. The additions of Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne have pushed Harry down to the No. 4 at best. His inability to separate from man coverage remains a problem.
It’s possible the Pats could wait to trade him on draft day or later. They’ve shown a willingness to cut bait with busted top picks before. The Patriots traded former secondround cornerback Duke Dawson during Harry’s first training camp after Dawson flamed out, never playing a down in New England. The price was a pick-swap with the Broncos, who moved back from the sixth round to the seventh to add Dawson.
Harry should yield a better return if/when he’s dealt. If not, and he fails to thrive in training camp, he can expect to sit on the sidelines, like Dawson once did, for much of 2021.
TE Dalton Keene
Aside from Matt LaCosse, who opted out last season, Keene drew the short stick in the tight end room this offseason.
Prized free-agent acquisitions Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry are locks at the top. Devin Asiasi, whom the team selected ahead of Keene and has since proved to be a greater receiving threat, is the favorite for the No. 3 job. There’s also veteran LaCosse, who opted out of last season but spent much of 2019 as the team’s starter.
It’s possible Keene could carve out a role as an H-back, splitting his snaps between the backfield and in-line tight end. But he’ll find competition from fullbacks Jakob Johnson and Danny Vitale off the line of scrimmage.
At the time he was drafted, Keene was viewed as a reach late in the third round. While the 2020 season was inhospitable for rookie success, there was little evidence Keene was a sleeper pick instead of misplaced late-round flier. Now, he faces as steep an uphill climb to the 53-man roster as almost anybody.
OT Korey Cunningham
Acquired in a preseason trade two years ago, Cunningham was seen as a potential swing tackle when he arrived from Arizona. That vision appears dead.
Justin Herron, a 2020 sixth-round rookie, quickly leapt Cunningham on the depth chart last year. He also displayed a versatility the veteran lacks, playing both left and right tackle. Herron is the clear favorite to become the Pats’ swing tackle in 2021, given Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown firmly project as the team’s upcoming starters. Swapping Marcus Cannon out for Brown represented an upgrade for the Patriots, who should feel confident in their topseven O-linemen entering camp. Though rare is the draft when they don’t add a late-round tackle or guard, who, like Herron, usually pushes for a roster spot. Cunningham will need to make the strongest push of his career to do the same.