- DT Milton Williams
4yr/$106 Million ($26 Million AAV)
- CB Carlton Davis
3yr/$60 Million ($20 Million AAV)
- OLB Harold Landry
3yr/$43.5 Million ($14.5 Million AAV)
- OT Morgan Moses
3yr/$24 Million ($8 Million AAV)
- WR Mack Hollins
2yr/$8.4 Million ($4.2 Million AAV)
- LB Robert Spillane
3yr/$37.5 Million (12.5 Million AAV)
- QB Josh Dobbs
2yr/$8 Million ($4 Million AAV)
- DT Khyiris Tonga 1yr/$2.75 Million
The Patriots wasted no time on the first day of free agency spending $287.4 Million to 7 Free Agents on the first day. These contracts will come out to an estimated $89.7 Million cap hit for next season which means the Patriots till have around $40 Million in cap space.
The Free Agents the Pats brought in range from immediately impactful to solid depth. Josh Dobbs as a backup QB for the next two years along with LB Robert Spillane and WR Mack Hollins will be used as reliable role players who can be used around 50-75% of snaps are good pieces for decent salaries as well.
The largest signings have come on the defensive side of the ball where three major starters have already been signed. Super Bowl-winning D-lineman Milton Williams, Edge Rusher Harold Landry and Cornerback Carlton Davis have all been confirmed as new residents in New England. For a combined $60.5 Million dollars per year, these 3 defensive studs will add some much needed help against opposing Quarterbacks.
So what do these signings mean to the team and who will be the most/least impactful newcomers on the team? Let's dive into each singing with a grade and prediction on how they will fair in Foxborough
Milton Williams Grade A-
Williams won a Super Bowl last year s part of the Eagles' daunting D-line and is a pass rushing specialist from the interior. Williams will start next season at the young age of 26 as well as teammate Christian Barmore, making one of the omst dynamic interior pass rushing duos in the league. Williams will bring an intimidating presence to this D-line the Patriots have been missing for some time.
His $26 Million per year contract is on the high side, but his potential is worth the money and if he comes even close to what he flashed last year on the Eagles, he will be one of the bright spots on this defense in a crucial time for the franchise. Quite frankly, Williams will be trusted with being a Top-5 player on this franchise for the next 4 years.
Carlton Davis Grade B
A new CB2 to play across form Christian Gonzalez was a powerful move to make for Mike Vrabel and the Patriots. Carlton Davis is a good-to-great Cornerback in this league and has legitimate experience to not only mentor Gonzalez but also guard most 2nd option WRs in the league.
As an impartial reporter and NFL follower, I have to write about why Davis' grade is only a B, and that is because his $20 Million per year for 3 years is too much for him. Don't get me wrong; he is a very good corner who will improve this defense with multiple years as a starter as experience. However, he is a mid-level starting corner in this league and should've earned somewhere around $15 Million per pear in my opinion.
The Patriots had plenty of money to spend though and went for their guy. If Davis is a perfect fit I don't mind them overpaying for him and truth be told, they are able to overpay guys in the midst of this rebuild. Still, Davis will be an integral part of this defense for the next 3 years and that may be worth the extra money.
Morgan Moses Grade B
The Patriots had numerous holes to fill in this Free Agency period and none were more important than Offensive Tackle. While Morgan Moses is no longer amongst the upper echelon of protectors, he is a vastly experienced RT who came to New England on a VERY cheap deal of $24 Million over 3 years. The Patriots have been linked to OT at their #4 selection all offseason so adding a guy like Moses who at the very least can serve as a role model to a rookie OT was a great move.
Moses has been a reliable starter for the Jets and Ravens the past 4 seasons and at 34 years old. Will most likely serve as a starter until a younger player emerges and then will be a great backup for the remainder of his contract.
At only $8 million a year for a "starting" Tackle at the Patriots biggest position of need, this signing was one of the smartest and most valuable to the team.
Harold Landry Grade B
A "B" grade for Harold Landry may seem low but the signing can be seen as High Risk-High Reward. Landry's pass rush stats have been good over the past three season in Tennessee but have shown a steady decline in sacks and QB Pressures. In his last three healthy season, Landry has averaged 10.5 sacks and 19.3 QB hits per game. Both of these numbers, (if continued) will make him the Patriots new best Edge threat.
If Landry can keep these numbers up and not conitnue to decline year-after-year than this contract will be a good one and may deserve a better rating. For $14.5 Million per year, Landry can be seen as a steal. The 29-year old's future could go either way though.
Robert Spillane Grade B-
A signing that came as a shock to many in the know, Robert Spillane's deal with the Patriots is a bit of a head-scratcher. On one hand, Spillane has been a consistant and dominant run stuffer form the MLB position, (where the Patriots are very thin in their depth chart.) Coming off his best year in Las Vegas, Spillane will be the Mike on the Patriots for the next 3 seasons.
A good player, Spillane's age at the end of this contract is the reason for a lower grade here. Earning $12.5 Million as a MLB at the age of 33 will be a gamble for this team but one that can be labeled as a necessary evil. Spillane will do little in coverage or as a pass rusher, but he should be a reliable MLB for the team for these next three years. Is "reliable" what you want for $12.5 Million per year though? It might be for a team oozing cap space... we'll have to check in again towards the end of his contract.
Josh Dobbs Grade C+
Josh Dobbs to the Patriots is maybe the best scheme fit for the team and also one of the best deals as far as cheapness of contract-to-value. Dobbs may never see playing time in New England if everything goes the way the team would hope for but will serve as an unmeasurable mentor to the Franchise QB Drake Maye while being an above-average backup if his services are needed.
Dobbs has shown his ability to come off the bench and produce quality starts over the past three season on the Cardinals, Vikings and 49ers which may come in handy due to Drake Maye's "somewhat" injured past. If nothing else, his poise and accuracy in the pocket as well as his experience in the NFL will be very helpful to the young heir to the Patriots.
Mack Hollins Grade C
A divisional opponent from the Bills coming to the Patriots at a position of need for less than $5 Million per year will always be a good signing. The thing is, Hollins just feels like one of those guys that will be lost in the cesspool of "B-level" receivers in New England.
Hollins was in Buffalo last year in a year where Buffalo was desperate for receivers and he made the most of it. Arguably his best season as a pro, Hollins totaled 31, 378 and 5 as a Bill and showed his potential as a Red Zone Threat. Moving to New England, Hollins will be BY FAR the largest Receiver in New England and may surprise some by being a great target for Maye for Touchdowns.
Khyiris Tonga Grade C
A solid signing for defensive line depth, Khyiris Tonga has multiple hyears experience with around 200 snaps per season and a pass rush upside from the interior position. At only $2.75 Million for 1 year, this contract has 0 downside with a potential upside as a DT3.
Tonga's PFF pass rush grade over the past three season has been 61.4, 70.4 and 69.6 respectively. As a 29-year old, Tonga will service as a good backup to the starters and may even register his first professional sack this season in what could be a potential heart-warming story from a low-risk signing.
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-Z.D.