Patriots' influence across NFL creates challenge for team in free agency
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Mar 19, 2019
Mike Reiss
ESPN Staff Writer
Receiver Adam Humphries was a top target of the Patriots in free agency. He ultimately signed with the Titans.
Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports
1. With more coaches and general managers across the NFL having strong Patriots ties, Bill Belichick has said in the past that it has helped facilitate trades, in part because there is an inherent trust and understanding in those conversations.
While that has been positive, such as when Belichick and his former director of college scouting Bob Quinn struck a deal that brought linebacker Kyle Van Noy from Detroit to New England in 2016, there is a negative side to it, too. With such Patriots-specific influence across the NFL, it means more competition for the same types of players on the open market in free agency.
Consider:
The Patriots had hoped to re-sign defensive end Trey Flowers, but the Lions -- with head coach Matt Patricia running a New England-based defense and seeing Flowers' value in the scheme -- upped the bidding to $18 million per season. That was beyond the level New England was willing to go.
Slot receiver Adam Humphries was a top target for New England, which found itself competing against the Titans, led by head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson. Vrabel, of course, knows the value of a slot receiver from his time as a player in New England (Troy Brown, then Wes Welker), while Robinson came up through the Patriots' scouting ranks and elevated to director of college scouting.
The Patriots then checked in on slot receiver Cole Beasley, who said his final decision came down to staying in Dallas, joining New England, or signing with Buffalo. Beasley chose Buffalo, where former Patriots receivers coach Brian Daboll is offensive coordinator. The Bills, not surprisingly, were also an aggressive suitor for Humphries.
It's unknown how the Patriots viewed a potential reunion with slot receiver Danny Amendola, but once the Lions were willing to offer $4.5 million, that possibility quickly evaporated.
Though the Patriots and tight end Dwayne Allen left open the possibility of his return after he was released for salary-cap purposes, that never came close to materializing as former New England defensive playcaller Brian Flores, in his first year as Dolphins head coach, saw the value in bringing him to Miami (two-year deal, maximum value of $7 million).
And on Saturday, valuable swing offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle was signed to a one-year deal by the Bills. The Patriots had kept an open dialogue with Waddle to possibly bring him back, but the Bills were ultimately willing to up the bidding to a higher level than the Patriots were comfortable with.
It's a dynamic Belichick and the Patriots have been challenged with in the past, such as when Romeo Crennel became head coach in Cleveland (2005), Eric Mangini joined the Jets (2006) and Josh McDaniels took over the Broncos (2009), but one could make the case it has never quite been as prevalent as it is this year.
2. For a franchise that takes pride in being on top of the smallest details, it was surprising to me how things unfolded with the Patriots and Humphries. The Patriots were willing to offer more than what Humphries signed for in Tennessee, according to league sources, but that offer didn't come until after Humphries had verbally committed to the Titans. Humphries grew up in South Carolina, attended Clemson, and landed in the NFL because Robinson vouched for him after he took part in a rookie tryout with the Buccaneers (Robinson was Tampa's assistant GM at the time). Because of that, coupled with Tennessee not having state income tax, the Patriots had to know they had some geographical, football roots and financial factors working against them in their pursuit of Humphries. But they seem to have realized it too late, as they didn't come with their best and most aggressive pitch until after Humphries verbally committed to the Titans. Humphries acknowledged to Tennessee reporters that, as tough of a decision as it was after the Patriots came back to him, he wasn't turning back once he gave the Titans his word. In the end, Humphries still might have signed with the Titans, but at least the detail-oriented Patriots would have known they gave themselves the best chance to land one of their top targets.
3. A few follow-up thoughts on the Patriots' aggressive pursuit of Humphries
It is an acknowledgment that the receiver position needs an upgrade.
Humphries checked all the boxes in terms of the team's willingness to make a big financial investment: age (25) and NFL experience, style of play and scheme fit. After he was off the board, it was Beasley (29) and Golden Tate (31) as top slot options, and my sense is that the Patriots didn't seem to be as enthused at the same financial level.
If they landed Humphries, it's hard to believe it wouldn't have coincided with an adjustment/increase for Julian Edelman. So I wonder whether that could still be on the radar.
Hello, Braxton Berrios. Could the 2018 sixth-round pick from Miami be the next Humphries? He spent his rookie season on injured reserve and has a nice opportunity ahead of him in New England.
