Few teams face more potential road blocks in regards to 2017 free agency than the New England Patriots due in large part to who they could lose.
Such situations have not rattled Bill Belichick and his system in the past, but it doesn’t change the fact that there is a strong chance the Patriots could lose at least one productive player before next season begins. The good news is current projections show the team will have upwards of $63 million in cap space according to overthecap.com. Even so, when examining the list of prominent players with an expiring contract, it doesn’t make the task any less daunting.
- Dont’a Hightower
- Jabaal Sheard
- Sebastian Vollmer
- Martellus Bennett
- Rob Ninkovich
- Jonathan Cooper
- Chris Long
- Jamie Collins
This doesn’t even include Pro Bowl cornerback Malcolm Butler who will be a restricted free agent and almost certainly a potential target for teams anxious to pluck him away from the Patriots. Perhaps the most pressing of the group is linebacker Jamie Collins. He has emerged as a star over the past year. An athletic playmaker who can do anything and everything asked of him whether that’s play coverage or blitz the quarterback.
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ESPN ranks him as one of the top names who will command big money in 2017, whether it’s New England giving it to him or not.
"“Collins is the most talented of a number of Patriots players who will be in the contract market over the next year or so, especially after the trade of defensive end Chandler Jones. The Patriots don’t often hand over premium contracts, and over the years they’ve been able to recover from key personnel losses. But Collins wants an elite deal, and if the Patriots aren’t willing to give it, someone else will in free agency next year.”"
The New England Patriots have a long history of not forking out big money deals very often. So even with their projected wealth of cap space, smart money says they’ll bite the bullet and let some key players walk. Who that will be may depend on how things shake out this 2016 season.