Possible extensions A new kicker?
The Patriots have the eighth most cap space (32.4 million) in the league, according to Over the Cap.
With a bit of flexibility to work with in terms of free agency this year, they should also be looking at a few players who would hit free agency in 2024 or beyond, stay ahead of the curve, and try to work out extensions.
Tops on the list?
Kyle Dugger, who will be entering the final year of his rookie contract.
The 2020 second-round pick continued to grow and elevate his game in 2022, with three defensive touchdowns. While he still needs to improve in certain areas, he’s on his way to being an impact player for the Patriots defense.
Whether Devin McCourty ultimately decides to retire, or not, having some continuity at that position is important. Between Dugger’s knowledge of the system, versatility in the defensive backfield, ability to impact games, and perhaps be a future leader, locking him up now makes sense.
McCourty, for one, believes Dugger will eventually take the leadership baton.
“He wants to do the right things on the field, and I think that’s the recipe not only to be a good player — especially in this system to be one of the better safeties — but also to be the leader of this team and of the defense going forward,” McCourty told reporters last year. “Watching him develop and doing those things has been fun and I can’t wait to see how he continues to develop in the future.”
After Dugger, offensive lineman Michael Onwenu should also be considered in the mix for an extension.
Onwenu was easily the team’s best lineman last year.
The Michigan product settled in at right guard, and produced an All-Pro-caliber season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Onwenu gave up just one sack and two quarterback hits during 1,044 snaps played. He was penalized just twice.
After not re-signing Ted Karras, and trading Shaq Mason for cap purposes, and leaving themselves thin on the line, the Patriots would be wise to make sure Onwenu sticks around.
Outside of players like Dugger and Onwenu who are reaching the end of their rookie deals, Hunter Henry would be another possibility for a contract extension.
The tight end has a $15.5 salary cap number, and an extension would provide additional cap space, while Henry gets longer term security. With
Bill O’Brien running the show, Henry figures to be utilized more in the offense.
The Patriots might seriously be considering moving on from Jake Bailey, who ranked last in average and net average among players with more than 10 punts. He was a first-team All-Pro his rookie season two years ago, but looked nothing like that player last season. The Patriots were proactive in signing him to a four-year $13.5 million extension (making him the NFL’s highest-paid punter at the time), but haven’t gotten the best bang for their buck ever since. He wound up on injured reserve last year with a back problem, then was hit with a team-imposed suspension.
It’s possible that ban could void the guarantees in Bailey’s contract, which would make him easier to release. The punter’s representatives filed a grievance over the suspension.
So there are clearly issues between the two sides. It’s not outlandish to think Bailey won’t be back. Neither will Michael Palardy, who wasn’t very good after taking over for Bailey late in the year.
Still, several scenarios could play out from here.
The Pats could keep Bailey, bring in competition from the 2023 draft, and keep the better punter.
Or, decide to just move on from Bailey,
and draft his replacement, which is the leader in the clubhouse. One name to keep an eye on is Rutgers’ Adam Korsak, who won the Ray Guy Award as the top punter in college football.
Whether it’s a new punter, or Bailey, the Patriots need someone who can better handle kickoff duties.
Kicker Nick Folk, who took over kickoff duties after Bailey’s midseason injury, doesn’t have the leg for it. His inability to produce touchbacks hurt the Patriots, who allowed an NFL-high three kickoff return touchdowns. All three came on Folk kickoffs.
Folk, who is under contract for 2023, certainly remains in the driver’s seat for that job.
The Pats have brought in kickers to challenge Folk the past three seasons, but the veteran has always been the last man standing.
Folk has been a model of consistency since he took over in 2019. His conversion rate during that span (89.3%), ranks fifth-best among all kickers with at least 75 attempts. In 2022, however, he wasn’t as much of a sure thing from 50 yards in as he had been in the past.
The Pats reportedly met with Michigan’s Jake Moody, one of college football’s top kickers, at the Combine so they might once again be thinking about bringing in competition.