Patriots Free Agency: Jakobi Meyers, Damien Harris Priorities?
Following an 8-9 finish to the 2022 season, the New England Patriots are serious about returning to their winning ways.
While on-field personnel moves have yet to begin, the team has already made significant changes to both strategy and personnel — especially on offense.
Having jettisoned offensive assistants Matt Patricia and Joe Judge from their prominent roles on the offensive coaching staff (though each presently remains with the team), the Patriots have brought in some promising new faces. Bill O’Brien heads the trio as offensive coordinator, while Will Lawing joins the group as an offensive assistant and former Patriot Adrian Klemm will coach their offensive line.
Still, the Pats will need to surround their revamped coaching staff with capable players.
With 22 members of the Patriots headed for free agency when the new NFL league year begins, the Pats face some critical decisions on whether to retain their internal commodities, or allow them to hit the open market.
With New England projected to have approximately $34 million in available cap space, per Patriots salary cap expert Miguel Benzan, here is a look at the team’s key free agents along the offensive line.
Jakobi Meyers (WR)
In addition to being their top wide receiver, Meyers is also (arguably) their first priority when it comes to internal free agents. The 2019 undrafted rookie free agent battled through a myriad of injuries in 2022. Yet, he started 13 of the 14 games he appeared in this season. The 26-year-old led the team and set career highs with 804 receiving yards and six touchdowns and finished second on the team with 67 receptions. While Meyers may not be a prototypical ‘WR1,’ his ability to secure the football for big yardage at the catch point makes him an invaluable addition to most any offensive scheme. As one of quarterback Mac Jones’ most-reliable (and thus, preferred) targets, New England will keep him top-of-mind in the coming weeks. Should he hit the open market, Meyers is likely to receive several lucrative offers — perhaps eclipsing that which the Pats are willing to offer.
Damien Harris (RB)
Health and injury have taken their toll on the Alabama product, who is currently in the final year of his rookie deal. Still, in nine games, Harris ran for 462 yards and three touchdowns on 106 carries, while also catching 17 passes (on 23 targets) for 97 yards. Despite some ball security issues early in his career, Harris has continuously improved his confidence and experience, running for both power and finesse. When given the space to maneuver, the Alabama product is capable of breaking for significant yardage. He can also be a factor when receiving out of the backfield, a trait which he exhibited during his days at Alabama. Harris' skill set, as well as his leadership and enthusiasm has made him a favorite among his teammates, as well as the fanbase. If Harris’ limited stat sheet in 2022 negatively affects his market value, New England would be smart to retain his services on a team-friendly deal.
Nelson Agholor (WR)
Agholor joined the Pats after signing a two-year, $22 million contract in 2021. Unfortunately, New England’s return on investment has fallen short of expectations. The 29-year-old ended the season with 31 catches for 362 yards and two touchdowns. Having been the subject of trade rumors throughout 2022, there were occasions in which he flashed his speed and athleticism, making several acrobatic catches against stout coverage. He has most-often been used on vertical outside routes, taking advantage of his speed and ability to get open over the top and separate from his opponents. Still, the veteran wideout continues to be plagued by ball security issues, victimizing his progress with crucial drops in clutch situations. Though the Pats would consider re-signing him to a low-risk deal, it is likely that Agholor will be continuing his football journey elsewhere.
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