In the last edition of “Patriots Free Agency Focus,” we took an in-depth look at the state of the Patriots’ offensive line. Today, we turn our attention to a culprit for the team’s Super Bowl LII loss: the defensive backfield.
With the exception of Stephon Gilmore, the team’s secondary was no match for Nick Foles, who threw for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl MVP performance. If the team is going to have a chance at winning Super Bowl 53, they can’t roll out players like Johnson Bademosi and Jordan Richards in today’s pass-happy NFL. Other than Stephon Gilmore, who emerged as a consistent, productive player after an up and down start, the cornerback position is in need of a major overhaul. Moreover, our starting safeties, Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung, are creeping onward into their 30’s. An infusion of talent is needed, and that can be partially accomplished through free agency.
Patriots Free Agents
Obviously, the big story is cornerback Malcolm Butler, whose journey from “Hero to Zero” I chronicled a few weeks ago. Given the unceremonious ending to the season--coupled with Butler’s regression and the team’s unwillingness to sign him to a long-term deal last offseason--the writing is on the wall for Butler: his time with the Patriots is surely all but over. Johnson Bademosi, acquired from the Lions as a special teams player, is another Patriot set to hit the free agent market. Though he performed poorly on defense in the Super Bowl, he was a productive member of several special teams units throughout the course of the season. If Bademosi is willing to return on a salary similar to the one Brandon Bolden received, I expect him to fill a special teams role going forward. If he’s seeking cornerback money, he will likely move on elsewhere. Nate Ebner, a safety, is a reliable special-teamer who sustained a season-ending injury midway through last season. Given the fact that Belichick appreciates special teams guys, expect Ebner to return to that role on an inexpensive deal.
Free Agent Targets
My three potential targets are CBs Morris Claiborne and EJ Gaines and safety Kenny Vaccaro. Claiborne is an older player (28 years old) who has never made the most of his talents. When he was drafted with the 6th overall pick out of LSU in 2012, Claiborne was expected to emerge as one of the league’s dominant corners, similar to his former LSU teammate Patrick Peterson. Due to some maturity and NFL adjustment issues, Claiborne never hit his stride with the Cowboys. Last year, he had something of a resurgence with the Jets, starting 15 games and compiling 43 tackles and 8 passes defensed. Perhaps Bill Belichick could make the most of his talents similar to what he did with Aqib Talib. Another potential target, EJ Gaines, is a really solid player who has flown under the radar since being drafted by the Rams in 2014 and traded to the Bills last season. With 36 fairly effective starts and given that he will only be 26 entering the 2017 season, Gaines could be a good low-cost candidate to help the secondary. My last potential target, Kenny Vaccaro, is similar to Claiborne in that he has yet to capitalize on his talent and first round pedigree, but he’s a safety. Vaccaro is four years younger than McCourty and Chung, and he has considerable playing experience. Given the emergence of rookie safety Marcus Williams (except for, you know, this) and the signing of Kurt Coleman, the Saints no longer have a use for Vaccaro. With his 6-foot, 215-pound frame and relatively untapped potential, Vaccaro could make a major impact in the team’s secondary and serve as an eventual replacement for McCourty or Chung.
(Images via SBnation and USA Today)
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