These 25 Patriots are headed to free agency
Normally, the Patriots are spending their January in the postseason. But with New England out of the playoffs for the first time since 2008, attention shifts to both the draft and free agency -- where 25 players hit the offseason as free agents.Here's a closer look, broken down alphabetically.
After missing the entire 2019 season with blood clots, Andrews' return as the anchor of the offensive line was invaluable in 2020 -- and he even led fan voting for the Pro Bowl. Although he was inactive for the team's regular-season finale, the 28-year-old was still on the sideline helping out -- a true sign of his leadership.
Picking up Bethel after his release from the Ravens last season was an underrated move for the Patriots, letting them pair the three-time Pro Bowler alongside nine-time Pro Bowler Matthew Slater and giving the team two of the best special teamers in the business. Keeping him in New England should be a priority, especially with Slater on the back nine of his career.
Brooks' playing time decreased in his second season in New England. In a four-game stretch between Week 9 and Week 12, he totaled just 33 snaps on defense and was then inactive in Weeks 13 and 14. He returned to the active roster in Week 15 and didn't see a single snap.
Rex Burkhead was playing some great football when he went down with a torn ACL in Week 11 against the Texans. Between his injury history, his age (30), and the emergence of Damien Harris and J.J. Taylor to complement Sony Michel in the Patriots backfield, it's no sure thing he's back in 2021... though he's a great do-it-all back in the New England offense.
Adam Butler was one of the Patriots' best pass rushers in 2020, which is both a credit to the fourth-year player and an indictment on the team's inability to bring consistent pressure throughout the season.
Damiere Byrd shouldn't be a No. 2 wide receiver on an NFL team, but that was the role he was forced into with Julian Edelman injured and N'Keal Harry ineffective. Byrd's 2020 stats were better than his totals from his first four NFL seasons.
Offseason departures at linebacker plus Dont'a Hightower opting out thrust more responsibility onto Calhoun's shoulders, but he didn't make a huge impression with the extra playing time this season.
After signing a one-year contract in March, Copeland only played in six games this season before suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Week 7 against the 49ers.
The Patriots signed Davis off the Jaguars practice squad in mid-October, but he only saw action in three games before landing on injured reserve in late November with a concussion.
Davis' signature play this season was blocking a Chargers field goal attempt late in the first half of the Patriots' Week 13 demolition of the Bolts, leading to a Devin McCourty touchdown. He's not a household name like Matthew Slater or Justin Bethel, but he's a core special teamer.
Eluemunor spent his second season in New England splitting time between left tackle and right tackle. He also missed three weeks during the middle of the season after injuring his ankle against the Broncos.
In Ferentz's third season in New England, the reserve lineman saw 75 offensive snaps in Week 4 against the Chiefs and then only 21 offensive snaps over the team's next 11 games before being pressed into action in the regular season finale against the Jets.
Remember when the Patriots drafted Justin Rohrwasser and it seemed like the rookie would be the choice at kicker in 2020? Nick Folk wasn't having it. He went 26-for-28 on field goals -- including a pair of game-winning kicks -- and 30-for-33 on PATs, winning two AFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards.
"I’d love to return to New England. I laid the roots already here, so if I’m able to do that, that would be amazing."
After getting drafted in the seventh round and bouncing around between the Packers, Colts, Chargers and Ravens over the first six seasons of his career, Guy has found a home in Foxboro as an integral part of the Patriots defense over the last four seasons -- and it certainly sounds like he's open to re-signing with the Pats.
After three stints as a Patriot, Hoyer might finally have reached his expiration date at age 35. Considering the Patriots' uncertain future at the quarterback position, Hoyer could always qualify as an option who knows the system -- but Tom E. Curran might have nailed it recently when he suggested a coaching future for Hoyer.
Another in a long line of success stories among undrafted free agents in Foxboro, Jackson finished the 2020 season with nine interceptions, second in the league to Miami's Xavien Howard. And considering the possibility of an offseason Stephon Gilmore trade, keeping the restricted free agent in Foxboro seems extremely important.
Johnson heads into the offseason as an exclusive rights free agent -- and the only fullback on the roster after Dan Vitale opted out of the 2020 NFL season.
Here's a total question mark headed into the offseason. The Patriots liked Martin enough to sign him in late December with the offensive line shorthanded headed into Week 17, but do they like him enough to bring him back in 2021?
After eight seasons in Tennessee and one in Cleveland, McCourty has been a key part of the Patriots secondary over the last three seasons -- but the question remains if New England will sign him to a new deal as he enters his age-34 season.
Was Cam Newton's best game as a Patriot also his last? Newton threw for three scores and caught another in Week 17 against the Jets amid reports that New England has already decided that he wouldn't return for a second season. Despite the solid final game -- and how much his teammates and coaches respected his efforts over the course of the year -- Newton wasn't able to deliver consistently this season.
The well-traveled Simon has already made stops in Baltimore, Houston, Indianapolis and New England over his eight-year career, and he's only missed five games over a three-season stint in Foxboro. But has he carved out a role going forward?
Joe Thuney hasn't missed a single game and has only missed a handul of snaps over his five-year career in New England since being taken in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. But after playing the 2020 season on the franchise tag, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Thuney cash in this offseason and head elsewhere.
Dee Virgin barely learned where his locker was in Foxboro before the 2020 season came to a close. The Patriots signed the four-year vet to the active roster just two days before their regular-season finale against the Jets.
For the first time in his NFL career, James White is heading into free agency. Though his 49 receptions and 375 receiving yards in 2020 were his lowest totals since 2015, he remains a reliable third down back and will be an attractive target on the open market.
The lone player left on the Patriots roster from the 2017 NFL Draft, Wise hasn't made a huge impact on the defense over those four seasons, and now heads into an uncertain offseason. Before the team's Week 17 game against the Jets, Wise knew that it could be his swan song in Foxboro, saying "it’s gonna suck saying bye to these guys if that’s what’s in the cards for me."
