The Patriots have the resources to go big-game hunting in NFL free agency, and one league insider expects New England to flex those muscles.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Patriots “were geared up to make big runs” at both offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and linebacker Jamien Sherwood. However, both players stuck with their respective teams on new deals, which forced New England to call an audible and focus on different players.
Breer highlighted who those targets could be in a column published Monday morning.
“I’d expect they pivot and kick tires on the remaining left tackles (Dan Moore, Jaylon Moore and Robinson), and also aggressively pursue Philadelphia Eagles nose tackle Milton Williams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin,” Breer wrote.
With Christian Barmore dealing with a lingering health issue and Davon Godchaux reportedly bound for New Orleans, New England definitely could use some help in the interior of its defensive line. Williams, one of the best players in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win, would address that need and then some.
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An even greater need for the Patriots resides in their receiver room, where New England hasn’t had a true standout wideout in years. Eliot Wolf and company’s options to fill that void are dwindling, too, as Tee Higgins, DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel and Davante Adams all have their 2025 situations locked in after previously being available on either the trade or free-agent market. Godwin is coming off a nasty season-ending ankle injury, but the 29-year-old is supremely productive when healthy.
Given the free-agent landscape, the Patriots might need to overpay to land Godwin and/or Williams. But that such a strategy is one Vrabel wouldn’t run away from.