The New England Patriots remained busy on the primary official day of the 2024 NFL league 12 months and free company. Apart from extending edge linebacker Anfernee Jennings, additionally they signed free brokers Armon Watts and Nick Leverett to bolster the depth alongside the defensive and offensive traces, respectively.
With that in thoughts, let’s check out those that immediately or not directly profit from these strikes, and people who don’t.
Winners
ED Josh Uche: The Patriots retained Anfernee Jennings on a three-year, $12 million contract, making certain that the crew could have their core edge guys from 2023 round for an additional season as properly. Josh Uche is the first beneficiary of that: with Jennings within the fold, he can proceed specializing in his skills as a move rusher. If employed like final 12 months, Jennings would work early downs, with Uche approaching in passing conditions.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and WR Tyquan Thornton: In an try and make their offense extra explosive, the Patriots had their sight set on wideout Calvin Ridley. With the free agent signing an enormous $92 million deal in Tennessee, nevertheless, they should regroup which in flip could be excellent news for Smith-Schuster and Thornton. The pair arguably might need been the gamers most impacted by Ridley coming, and even in danger of dropping their roster spots on account of his arrival.
OT Chukwuma Okorafor: The Patriots are doubtless so as to add extra assist at offensive sort out, presumably this week. What they didn’t do, nevertheless, is add presumably the highest OT obtainable available on the market: Jonah Williams joined the Cardinals, which in flip implies that Okorafor presently stays the potential frontrunner to begin at left sort out.
The Patriots’ cap area: New England spent the primary day of free company discount looking. All three of their signings — Jennings, Watts, Leverett — are of the low-cost selection. Whereas these three should not but a part of the calculations, it appears unlikely that they’ll put an excessive amount of of a dent into New England’s present $55.02 million in cap area (as calculated by Miguel Benzan).
Losers
OL Jake Andrews, OL Atonio Mafi, OL Michael Jordan: Including Nick Leverett to the inside offensive line was not a high-profile transfer, however one to assist the crew in case Cole Unusual is unavailable to begin the season. On the flip facet, nevertheless, it makes the outlook for the present backup group — Andrews, Mafi, Jordan — a bit extra muddy. On the time being, not one of the 4 are locks to make the crew with Leverett’s addition solely growing the competitors.
DT Daniel Ekuale, DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr., DT Sam Roberts, DT Trysten Hill: The backup inside line of defense is in an identical place because the backup inside offensive line. With Armon Watts added, the room has instantly gotten extra crowded — and the competitors for roster spots and taking part in time extra intense.