The best way to conceptualize the Patriots’ free agency, in which they retained their best players and solidified the foundation of their roster but failed to appreciably improve, might be imagining a sharp student who nails every assignment in a semester except the final exam and a big quiz.
The exam: adding a difference-making wide receiver. That quiz: signing another offensive tackle.
Therefore, on balance, it’s hard to grade the Patriots’ overall free agency much higher than a B-. Their pursuit of the best receiver available, Calvin Ridley, ended with a reported offer of $22 million per year and no deal. And so the Patriots continue to pair one of the league’s worst quarterback rooms with its least threatening receiving corps, same as the last 12 months.
No team can win like that in the modern NFL. None.
And yet, the Pats cannot be faulted for not spending, particularly after re-signing right tackle Mike Onwenu to a three-year, $57 million contract that made him the new highest-paid player on the team. Furthermore, through Saturday morning, they ranked 10th in total money committed to fresh free-agent contracts, 11th in total guarantees, eighth in full guarantees and sixth in first-year cash, according to Over The Cap.
And when parsing each of those contracts, it’s hard to find any bad money. The Patriots stacked up team-friendly contracts on team-friendly contracts, while building depth, adding a new veteran quarterback and re-signing top-of-the-market players at tight end and offensive tackle.
Here’s a deal-by-deal breakdown of their free agency:
Note: This list excludes exclusive rights free agents retained including quarterback Nathan Rourke, offensive tackle Tyron Wheatley Jr., linebacker Christian Elliss and cornerback Alex Austin.
1 year, $8 million ($6 million guaranteed)
Grade: A-
Finally, an adult in the quarterbacks room.
Brissett has been a quality backup since getting traded out of New England in 2017. Should the Patriots draft a quarterback at No. 3 overall, he will fill that role again. It’s hard to imagine a better veteran mentor than Brissett, a locker-room leader with experience across the league who knows his role.
At worst, Brissett steps in to take the hits early in the season as the starter before handing the reins over late when the rookie is ready.
3 years, $11.25 million ($5.3 million guaranteed)
Grade: B
It’s a moderate contract for Gibson, who had his role reduced last season in Washington. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder is a rare power back who plays mostly on passing downs. Gibson came up as a college receiver at Memphis, but has played almost exclusively at running back in the pros.
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The good: last year, in a down season, he averaged 3.51 yards after contact, fourth-most among running backs with 60-plus carries, per Pro Football Focus. He also ranked top-5 in pass-blocking grades.
The bad: fumbling. Gibson fumbled six times during his only 1,000-yard rushing season of 2021, and four times last year, when he dropped the ball on roughly one of every 29 touches.
Overall, he's a versatile piece that bolsters the Patriots' backfield, where they've lacked a third-down back for two years running.
1 year, $4.25 million
Grade: B+
Hooper fits as an ideal No. 2 tight end, someone serviceable as both a receiver and a blocker. The Patriots can now spell Hunter Henry out in single-tight end packages without losing much in the run or pass game. Hooper represents a buy-low opportunity, coming off career worst numbers as he caught passes from Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer and Aidan O'Connell in Las Vegas.
His addition also eliminates tight end as a Day 2 draft need for the Patriots, who now have him, Henry and La'Michael Pettway on their depth chart. Hooper's Pro Bowl days are surely behind him, but the Pats may have just secured starter-level play at the price of paying a No. 2.
2 years, $6.645 million ($2 million guaranteed)
Grade: B
Takitaki played more than 60% of the Browns' defensive snaps the last two years. His strengths are in pass coverage, a long-standing weakness for Patriots linebackers. Takitaki also comes at roughly half the cost of Mack Wilson, who walked for a three-year, $12.75 million contract in Arizona.
He turns 29 in June, indicating there's little potential left to be maximized here, but Takitaki should provide plenty of value on his new deal.
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1 year, $3 million ($800,000 guaranteed)
Grade: B+
Another rotational front-seven defender in his late 20s, Watts projects as a part-time replacement for former defensive tackle Lawrence Guy. He boasts similar size, at 6-foot-5 and 307 pounds, and versatility. Watts' contract does not secure him a roster spot, however, allowing the Patriots to take a flier on defensive tackles later in the draft to give him competition.
Watts hit a career high with 5.5 sacks in 2021, and is now on his third team in four years.
TBA
Grade: N/A
A backup interior O-lineman, Leverett started 10 games in 2022 but took all four of his snaps last season on special teams. He didn’t allow a sack and allowed just 12 pressures in 761 offensive snaps two years ago, per Pro Football Focus. He's expected to provide competition for youngsters Jake Andrews, Michael Jordan and Atonio Mafi on the interior.
3 years, $57 million ($38 million guaranteed)
Grade: A-
The Patriots' best free agent filled arguably their most pressing need. At 26, Onwenu is entering his prime with 24 career starts at right tackle and right guard. The offensive guard market exploded earlier this week, making his deal perfectly palatable even if he plays no more than one season at right tackle.
Onwenu is the exact type of player every team should aim to retain at fair-market value: homegrown, smart, tough and among the best at his position. Great deal.
3 years, $27 million ($16 million guaranteed)
Grade: B-
The only overpay on this list, Henry leveraged the Patriots into a long-term contract after consecutive down seasons by traditional receiving stats. Henry was the best player at his position on the market, and returned in part because the team only had one tight end under contract at the time he agreed to terms. Henry is in the back end of his prime, and will provide needed leadership in the locker room, plus a solid option on third down and inside the red zone for the Pats' next quarterback.
Good, not great, contract.
3 years, $19.5 million ($5.5 million guaranteed)
Grade: A
A steal. The Patriots were able to re-sign Bourne, still recovering from an ACL tear, despite guaranteeing less than $6 million over a multi-year deal. If the 28-year-old fails to find his old form, they can cut bait at no cost after Year 1. And if Bourne does, this deal becomes one of the best values in free agency.
Bourne is a reliable No. 2/3 wideout who can play inside and out and gains more yards after than catch than any other Patriots receiver. He's a valuable player now on a gift of a contract.
1 year, $3 million ($2.3 million guaranteed)
Grade: A+
The most shocking, team-friendly deal of free agency. Uche plays a premium position and boasts one of the highest pass-rush win rates in the NFL. He was projected in some places to land a contract with double the base value, and reportedly turned down millions more guaranteed.
Uche is coming off a down season and does not project to ever factor on early downs. However, his raw skill set, which has caused Matt Judon to praise him as the most gifted pass rusher on the team, is one of the most valuable in football. Nice deal.
3 years, $12 million ($ million guaranteed)
Grade: B
The Patriots will be in trouble if Jennings is forced into a full-time role again, but his new deal is reflective of a rotational player, something the Patriots could use on the edge.
Last year, Jennings registered more stops for no gain or negative yards than every other edge defender, except Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, per Pro Football Focus. Uche should again be relegated to a pass-rushing role, while Judon plays most downs and the defense needs an edge defender to sop up early-down snaps opposite him. That could be 2023 second-round pick Keion White or Jennings, who's as sturdy as they come.
Solid deal.
1 year, $1.29 million ($442,500 guaranteed)
Grade: B-
Re-signing Reagor is a low-cost, no-risk move. His plus physical tools - namely long speed and play strength - are evident, but the 25-year-old has never been able to put it all together. Another summer in Foxboro could give him a fair chance to make the 53-man roster outright, so long as he doesn't take snaps away from a drafted rookie.
He shouldn't have been a priority, but this contract is nothing more than a flier.