The New England Patriots opted to not transfer any of their contract-year draftees forward of Tuesday’s NFL commerce deadline, retaining Josh Uche, Kyle Dugger and Mike Ownenu regardless of reported curiosity from different golf equipment.
The rumors surrounding these three standouts will sluggish for the following a number of months because the Patriots play out the remainder of the 2023 season, which continues Sunday with a matchup in opposition to the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium. However after New England’s quiet deadline, it’s value spotlighting a number of vital choices it’ll must make come spring.
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Dugger, Uche and Onwenu all are set to hit free company for the primary time when the 2024 league yr opens in March. In the event that they don’t attain agreements on contract extensions earlier than that point, they’ll be free to barter and signal with any NFL crew.
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All three may have markets. Dugger is a flexible, athletic, playmaking security who’s performed almost each snap this season. Onwenu is a Professional Bowl-caliber proper guard and in addition the most effective proper sort out the Patriots have had in years. Uche is a rotational participant in New England’s protection, however he’s a stud move rusher who’d have a a lot bigger position in different schemes.
They’re the headliners of the Patriots’ first above-average draft class because the mid-2010s, snapping a run of whiff after whiff that sapped New England’s roster of younger expertise on the finish of the Tom Brady period and past. Now, the query is whether or not the Patriots will break with latest custom and re-sign any member of that trio.
What custom? Properly, the Patriots merely haven’t re-upped a lot of their draft picks currently, particularly these taken within the early rounds. The final New England participant drafted in Rounds 1-3 to obtain a second contract with the crew was security Duron Harmon, who entered the league a full decade in the past (third spherical, 2013).
From 2014-19, the Patriots chosen a complete of 19 gamers within the first three rounds, and none of them re-signed after their rookie deal. The closest was guard Joe Thuney, who was franchise-tagged forward of his fifth season, then signed with Kansas Metropolis for large cash the next yr.
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That full checklist consists of a few of the most notorious draft busts in Patriots historical past, plus two high quality quarterbacks who have been traded throughout their rookie contracts (Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett) and two stable contributors whom the crew let stroll in free company (Malcom Brown and Damien Harris).
2014
DT Dominique Easley
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
2015
DT Malcom Brown
S Jordan Richards
DE Geneo Grissom
2016
CB Cyrus Jones
G Joe Thuney
QB Jacoby Brissett
DT Vincent Valentine
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2017
DE Derek Rivers
OT Antonio Garcia
2018
OT Isaiah Wynn
RB Sony Michel
CB Duke Dawson
2019
WR N’Keal Harry
CB Joejuan Williams
DE Chase Winovich
RB Damien Harris
OT Yodny Cajuste
One of the simplest ways to construct a sustainable contender is thru the draft, and it’s no coincidence that these high-profile misses coincided with New England’s descent from powerhouse to also-ran.
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Over the 5 earlier drafts (2009-13), the Patriots picked 24 gamers within the first three rounds and re-signed six of them: Harmon, Dont’a Hightower, Nate Solder, Devin McCourty, Rob Gronkowski and Sebastian Vollmer, all of whom went on to win a number of Tremendous Bowls. Additionally they took Patrick Chung (second spherical, 2009) and Jamie Collins (second, ’13), who each left after which returned.
Re-signing Dugger or Uche — second-round picks in 2020 — would break this drought. The previous looks like the extra possible of the 2 to stay round, as he’s a greater scheme match and has a a lot bigger position within the Patriots’ protection.
Head coach Invoice Belichick not too long ago stated he “completely” desires Dugger to stay with the crew for the foreseeable future. Uche has not spoken with reporters because the commerce deadline, however historical past suggests one other crew can be keen to pay him greater than the Patriots if he hits the open market.
The Patriots even have one other Day 2 decide from 2020 who quietly is having fun with a profession yr: third-round linebacker Anfernee Jennings, who’s impressed as a run defender after starting the season as a wholesome scratch.
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Ownenu is in a unique class as a sixth-round decide. The Patriots have locked up a few of their later-round alternatives in recent times, however even these have been uncommon.
The only real member of New England’s 10-player 2019 draft class to land a second contract was punter Jake Bailey (fifth spherical), and he was lower lower than a yr later. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (fifth) was the one one in every of their 9 2018 draftees to re-sign. The others over the past decade: Deatrich Smart (fourth, 2017), Shaq Mason (fourth, 2015), Joe Cardona (fifth, 2015) and James White (fourth, 2014).
Build up a extra gifted roster must be a precedence for the Patriots this offseason. Whether or not their plan to take action entails preserving their homegrown draft hits stays to be seen.
