The Patriots head into free agency with some serious questions on the defensive side of the ball. While free agency is only part of the team-building process, taking into account fit, skill set and (likely) financial demands, here are 13 names that jump off the page when you’re talking about potential free-agent targets for New England. (For the purposes of this exercise, we’re not counting the Patriots’ own free agents.)
EDGE DEFENDERS
Julius Peppers: The veteran pass rusher is just the sort of guy who appeals to Bill Belichick — a smart, cost-effective defensive lineman looking for one more shot at a title. (From Keith Traylor to Ted Washington to Tommy Kelly to Andre Carter, Belichick collects these guys.) The 38-year-old has 154.5 career sacks, including 11 last year with Carolina, but the Panthers still squeezed 499 snaps out of him in 2017. He had shoulder issues at the end of last year, but using him judiciously as a situational pass rusher would make an awful lot of sense for a team like the Patriots looking to provide a boost when it comes to getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. (For the record, the two sides almost made it work in 2009.)
Connor Barwin:
