It’s never fun getting fired, but for a select few people it can actually open up opportunities for bigger and better things.
Shaq Mason and Jonathan Allen, for instance, just hit the open market.
Mason and Allen were both released on Friday, giving them each a head start before the legal tampering period officially opens on Monday. Mason’s release was expected after his rough final season with the Houston Texans. Allen’s wasn’t, as the only reason he was cut loose was because the Washington Commanders saved roughly $16.5 million toward the salary cap as they retool and look to get back to the NFC Championship Game.
Where will the two respected veterans land?
The New England Patriots immediately came to mind for both, but that doesn’t mean they’re a fit.
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It’s a penny-pinching business, and there are other players who more accurately fix the timeline down at One Patriot Place.
Mason just isn’t an upgrade at this point, having been credited with more sacks allowed than both Mike Onwenu and Layden Robinson combined in 2024. The Texans moved on despite already having major issues with former first-round pick Kenyon Green, and feel they can fix the interior of the offensive line despite having some of the lowest cap space in the entire NFL.
Allen is much more likely to be targeted, having still produced decent numbers when healthy across the last two seasons. The Patriots reportedly have heavy interest in targeting Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Milton Williams, but that shouldn’t stop them from bringing in another veteran presence to supplement younger guys like Christian Barmore and Keion White — or perhaps they view him as a backup plan?
New England needs to be smart about the way it spends money, though, because league-leading cap space starts to dwindle quickly when you have so many needs.
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