We’re on to 2015… A Look at the Patriots Roster and Key Free Agents
 Bill Belichick will have little time to settle in after the Super Bowl celebrations and get to work on the 2015 season. (USA TODAY Images) |
The 2014 season is in the books, the Patriots have won the Super Bowl again, the duck boats were again going to Government Center and it is time to move on. As Bill Belichick would say…”we’re on to 2015.”
And, compared to other teams, the Patriots are a bit behind in terms of looking at impending free agents and free agency in general as they’ve had their eyes on the prize. Given that all things being equal, it is a problem they’re happy to deal with.
The Patriots currently have 63 players on the roster, the 53 man unit that faced Seattle in the Super Bowl and the 10 players who are on IR. Of those 63, the team has 11 un-restricted free agents and four exclusive rights free agents, which are those players only the Patriots can make offers to unless they decide to let them go to free agency.
We’ll break down the roster by position and list the free agents for the team. In the coming days and weeks, we’ll break down each free agent individually and make a case for them to stay or go as the team will have a lot of thinking to do.
But first, let’s cut to the chase. Everyone in Patriots Nation wants to know if the Patriots are going to keep Darrelle Revis. The date to circle is March 10, that’s the date the team owes Revis a $9 million dollar roster bonus. An additional $3 million is deferred until March of 2016. More to this later, so on to the offense…
 Tom Brady with his son at the Super Bowl parade should have most of his weapons intact and in place in 2015. (USA TODAY Images) |
Offense:
Quarterback (2):
Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo
Let’s see, Super Bowl MVP? Check. 2014 NFL 2nd Round Draft pick? Check. These two aren’t going anywhere. Brady finished the season as well as anyone can expect and Garoppolo is secure as the team’s back up and heir to the throne.
I would expect the team to add a QB or two during the spring to reduce the wear and tear on #12 as he’ll turn 38 in training camp in August. But the team is set there with no worries moving forward.
Running Back (5):
LaGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden, Jonas Gray, James White, Tyler Gaffney
Free Agents (3):
Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley, James Develin
Change is coming here; Ridley was injured and placed on IR, where originally we thought he was gone after 2014. Now teams may steer clear of him because of his knee injury and if he’s healthy, he may be brought back cheaply. But with two big backs, Gray and Gaffney waiting in the wings, Ridley may be gone.
Vereen after a big Super Bowl performance may command big bucks on the market. The team has James White waiting in the wings and he and Vereen are similar type players. The coaches are very high on White although he essentially had a red-shirt type year.
Belichick loves Blount, and vice-versa and he’s been very dependable in New England. Bolden was re-signed and not going anywhere with his STs experience. Develin was a valuable piece at times during the season.
 Shane Vereen after a strong playoff run may find himself elsewhere in 2015. (USA TODAY Images) |
Wide receiver (5):
Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola, Josh Boyce, Aaron Dobson
Exclusive-rights free agents: Greg Orton, Brian Tyms
The Patriots mainly went with three wide receivers down the stretch in Edelman, LaFell and Amendola. Dobson was hurt all season and had zero impact after much was expected of him. Ditto for Boyce.
Many think the Patriots will cut their ties with Amendola but their savings would be pretty minimal and his production and contributions were high down the stretch. Dobson and Boyce will be on a very short leash this spring and summer. While both Tyms and Orton can be brought back cheaply, look for an upgrade for an outside the numbers guy in 2015.
Tight end (3):
Rob Gronkowski, Michael Hoomanawanui, Tim Wright
No changes needed here. After a season in hell (2 actually), Gronk came back healthy and loaded for bear. He was arguably the team’s MVP in 2014 and was once again the most complete, dynamic tight end in the NFL. It is no coincidence that having a healthy Gronkowski in the playoffs resulted in a fourth Lombardi trophy residing in Foxboro.
Hooman excels as the extra blocking tight end and can be counted upon to catch the occasional pass. And Wright, who was a big red-zone target in the middle of the season with six touchdowns, is still a young guy. Wright wasn’t used much at all down the stretch but look for that to change in 2015.
Offensive line (8):
Nate Solder, Bryan Stork, Sebastian Vollmer, Ryan Wendell, Marcus Cannon, Jordan Devey, Cameron Fleming, Josh Kline
Free agent: Dan Connolly.
Solder and Vollmer are locked up for now and although each had issues at times this season, they were solid down the stretch. Stork quickly stepped in as a starter at center and is as tough as they come. Wendell really stepped up his game with the switch at guard this season, but look for the team to upgrade at both positions (G/T) during the draft.
Fleming got some valuable experience, and Kline and Cannon, who signed an extension filled in when needed. Connolly is a tough, skilled veteran but the money will have to be right if he’s back in Foxboro this summer.
 Vince Wilfork had a strong comeback in 2014. (USA TODAY Images) |
Defense
Defensive line (8):
Vince Wilfork, Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Dominique Easley, Michael Buchanan, Chris Jones, Zach Moore, Joe Vellano
Free agent: Alan Branch, Jake Bequette
Exclusive-rights free agent: Sealver Siliga
Wilfork remains the glue of this unit and he played better in 2014 than anyone had any business hoping for after tearing an Achilles last year. Jones is solid but doesn’t have the repertoire for an elite pass rusher. Ninkovich is the classic over-achiever. The team is hoping that Easley, last season’s #1 draft pick will get healthy and provide the penetrating, disrupting influence he’s been touted for.
Buchanan and Moore have the potential to be intriguing guys off the edge, something that is needed. Ninkovich and Jones log far too many snaps and the team could use a boost in the pass rush.
Siliga is a valuable member of the unit and was missed while recovering from a myriad of injuries. He should be back and cheaply as well. Branch is an intriguing option but the team may opt to go younger from the draft if the opportunity avails itself.
Linebackers (5):
Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower, Jerod Mayo, Darius Fleming, Cameron Gordon
Free agents: Akeem Ayers, Jonathan Casillas, Chris White.
Exclusive-rights free agent: James Morris
 Jamie Collins had an outstanding 2014 for the Patriots. (USA TODAY Images) |
Mayo has been injured the past two seasons and has a $10 million dollar cap hit in 2015. He’ll have to reduce his cap hit if he wants to be sporting the “Flying Elvis” this season. Collins and Hightower were outstanding but the Patriots were fortunate that both were able to finish the season relatively unscathed.
Ayers was a valuable pick-up when Jones went down with an injury and provided immediate dividends in the pass rush. But once Jones returned, he was nearly invisible. He’s a very valuable piece in that he can help at linebacker or give the pass rush a boost at defensive end. The team would be crazy not to at least explore the opportunity to stay in 2015.
Casillas is a valuable STs contributor and produced in limited use at linebacker. Fleming and Gordon have some potential. Morris was a very intriguing, athletic guy who was hurt twice in the off-season. He can be brought back for the minimum, so it will be interesting to see if the team still believes that he could contribute.
Secondary (10):
Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Kyle Arrington, Patrick Chung, Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard, Nate Ebner, Duron Harmon, Tavon Wilson
Free agent: Devin McCourty
Do they or don’t they pay Revis? Revis is technically not a free-agent but his cap hit will be huge ($25 million), in 2015 so the Patriots have some soul searching to do. If they re-work his deal or just opt to pay him what he’s owed (doubtful), the Patriots will be set and deep at corner. They can also opt-out of his contract and then he becomes a free agent. Revis, Browner, Arrington, Dennard, Ryan and Butler give the Pats excellent depth.
Chung rejuvenated his career in 2014 with the team and played outstanding in the box. The other big question is how they intend on keeping McCourty this season. Rest assured he’ll be in a Patriots uniform in 2015. It is just a matter on if they choose the franchise tag and simplify matters this season or work out a long-term deal.
 Stephen Gostkowski has been outstanding since entering the league and will be a free agent in 2015. (USA TODAY Images) |
Special Teams (2)
P Ryan Allen, Matthew Slater (Gunner)
Free agents: LS Danny Aiken, K Stephen Gostkowski
Gostkowski will be back. He’s been money since he replaced Adam Vinatieri in 2006. He won’t be cheap however, as he’s among the best kickers in the league now. Allen had a very solid season after having his very first punt in 2014 blocked. Slater is a WR in name only but is a perennial Pro-Bowl STs player.
Aiken will likely be re-signed but expect the team to trot out quite a bit of competition this spring and summer. He didn’t have the greatest season in 2014.
Look for our free agent profiles soon as well as our up-dated stats data base and some interesting great fan interactions coming on our PatsFans.com web site.
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