After Week 1 of Free Agency Patriots are Different ... Better?
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After a week of wheeling, dealing, signing, cutting and trading in the NFL's "legal tampering" and free agency windows, the New England Patriots are certainly a different team than the one that walked off the field last January in Buffalo.
But are they a better team?
Only time will tell. For now let's just try to keep track of the roster in the wake of a dizzying array of moves. Trying to improve on last year's disappointing 8-9 record that kept them out of the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, the Pats entered free agency with a new offensive coordinator in Bill O'Brien and approximately $30 million in salary-cap room.
So far ...
COMING
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR - Upgrade from Jakobi Meyers?
James Robinson, RB
Mike Gesecki, TE - Athletic target to pair with Hunter Henry.
Riley Reiff, OT - Does 34-year-old veteran have anything left?
Calvin Anderson, OT
Chris Board, ST - Upgrade at a spot that allowed two long kickoff returns in finale.
STAYING
Jonathan Jones, CB - No. 1 cover corner.
Myles Bryant, CB (tendered)
Jabrill Peppers, S
Raekown McMillan, LB
Mack Wilson, LB
Carl Davis, DL
Daniel Ekuale, DL
James Ferentz, OL
Conor McDermott, OL
Yodny Cajuste, OL (tendered)
Matthew Slater, ST - Captain back for one more year.
Joe Cordona, LS - Highest-paid long-snapper in NFL.
GOING
Jakobi Meyers, WR (signed with Raiders)
Brian Hoyer, QB (released)
Jonnu Smith, TE (traded to Falcons)
Devin McCourty, ST (retired)
Jake Bailey, P (released)
Jalen Mills, CB (released)
The Patriots still have Nelson Agholor, Cody Davis, Damien Harris, Isaiah Wynn and Joejuan Williams as free agents.
Because of the Smith deal to Atlanta, they also added another pick to next month's draft. Their current pick stash:
1st Round - 14th overall
2nd Round - 46
3rd Round - 76
4th Round - 107, 117, 135
6th Round - 184, 187, 192, 210
7th Round - 245
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