DECISIONS THAT LOOM FOR PATS
In-house trade candidates?
This is the time of year where trade rumors start to surface with teams trying to gain more cap flexibility with free agency on the horizon. Who are the trade possibilities for the Patriots? Jonnu Smith would be a top candidate for the team to part ways. He hasn’t come anywhere near playing up to the four-year, $50 million contract he signed in 2021.
The veteran tight end has been a huge disappointment, catching only 55 passes for 539 yards and one touchdown in two seasons. His cap hit for 2023 is $17.2 million, and $18.4 in 2024. According to Miguel Benzan of “Pats Cap” the Patriots could save $10 million against the cap if they trade him after June 2. If they wanted to get cap relief sooner, they’d have to extend his deal.
If the Patriots feel Bill O’Brien can finally make better use of him, given his stellar record with tight ends, they’ll keep him around. Then, there’s Kendrick Bourne.
He has one year remaining on his three-year contract and is set to earn $4.75 million in 2023, which is team-friendly especially if he produces like he did in 2021. Once again, it’ll revolve around O’Brien helping him recapture the playmaking ability he showed in 2021.
Or, given he ruffled some feather last season being outspoken about the offense, Bill Belichick might want to part ways.
From a numbers standpoint, trading Bourne wouldn’t make much sense. Nelson Agholor is headed out the door in free agency, while the Patriots could also lose Jakobi Meyers, who is another unrestricted free agent.
Resurrecting Bourne, who had 55 catches in 2021 for 800 yards and five TDs, would seem the way to go.
Combine leftover
Why would the Patriots meet with one of the top quarterback prospects during the Combine having selected Mac Jones two years ago in the first round? Why spend time with Anthony Richardson? That was the million dollar question after a report surfaced during the week that he had met with the Patriots, a report Richardson confirmed Friday.
Perhaps it’s nothing more than a smokescreen, or a ploy, should Richardson be available at No. 14, where the Patriots first-round pick sits, and a quarterback-needy team sitting below has their sights set on the Florida star and might hand over a bundle to make sure they get him. But what if Pats interest is legitimate? Would they, should they, select him? Let’s answer it this way. If the Patriots truly don’t believe Jones is the answer, and know this even after sabotaging him last year, absolutely, take a quarterback there.
There’s really no harm in investigating this kid. Richardson, a dual-threat quarterback who was listed by Florida at 6-foot-4, 232 pounds, is certainly an intriguing prospect given his physical tools and raw ability.
His 53% completion percentage, however, should give pause. He’s a bit of a project, even as a first-round talent. It’s just hard imagining the Pats going back to the well in the first round for a quarterback.
Richardson’s meeting with the media Friday, however, was a gem.
“I wanna be a legend,” Richardson said. “I wanna be like Patrick Mahomes, I wanna be like Tom Brady -- I wanna be one of the greats, you know, I will be one of the greats because I’m willing to work that hard and get to that point.”
Rodgers or Carr?
Jets GM Joe Douglas, speaking at the Combine, doesn’t seem to be in too much of a rush to land a veteran quarterback. But that’s likely due to Aaron Rodgers, who finally emerged from his bunker, still figuring out what he wants to do.
“We’re going to look at every available option,” Douglas said. “We feel like when it’s time to make the right decision, when everyone goes through their process, we’re going to make the best decision for the Jets.”
While having a motivated Rodgers would seem attractive to most teams, at least one former Jet would prefer the team to sign Derek Carr, instead of the Packers quarterback, who is expected to be available via trade.
Former Jets great Joe Klecko, during a recent appearance on CBS Sports Radio’s “Zach Gelb Show” worries about Rodgers potentially messing with the younger players and ruining the locker room.
“I don’t think Rodgers is a fit with the young guys,” said Klecko, who was recently elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I relate this to myself with a young team that came up when we started winning. Why it was a good fit for all of us was because we all worked together and came up together.”
Klecko is hoping the team goes with Carr, who has met several times with the Jets.
“I see a guy like (Derek) Carr, who is an All-Pro,” the former Jets defensive lineman said. “He hasn’t been an MVP, but he has had some great years. I just can’t see them going after a guy that has had all his years and had his way. And then, when it doesn’t turn out his way, he goes dark. I just can’t see it.”
Speaking recently with Damien Woody, another former Jet, he believes Gang Green wouldn’t go wrong with Carr.
“That would be a big improvement over where they’ve been at quarterback for quite some time,” Woody said. “I know DC had a down year last year. No ifs ands or buts about that, but if you look at the body of work, what he’s been able to put together with basically a last place defense his whole career, I think the Jets fan base would take that in a heartbeat.”
Rodgers, however, has appeal to any team believing they’re a quarterback away. The Jets have one of the best defenses in the league, and a group on offense that features young stars Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. So in that way, he better fits the profile for the Jets, especially
if he sticks a sock in his mouth.
Miami’s appeal
While the NFLPA came out with a survey last week identifying teams with the best and worst playing conditions, here’s another consideration for players: states with better tax rates.
Buffalo safety Jordan Poyer is set to hit the open market, and on his podcast, suggested Miami would be a consideration based on the bottom line with his pay check.
“Taxes play a big part in all of our lives,” Poyer said. “Especially at the level that we play at. You look at some of your checks and some places you go take half of your check away. You are wondering where is that money even going. What are they doing with that money?
Poyer, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod, recorded 63 tackles, eight passes defensed and four interceptions this season.
He’ll have a number of suitors, but the Dolphins are high on his list.
“It would be crazy to stay in the (AFC) East and come down here to South Florida,” Poyer said.