While free agency is only part of the team-building process, taking into account fit, skill set and (likely) financial demands, here are 10 names — most wide receivers — that jump off the page when you’re talking about potential free-agent targets for New England this offseason.
WIDE RECEIVER
Golden Tate: We were pushing for Tate last year, but now that he’s bound for free agency — and he said a ton of nice things about Tom Brady and the Patriots on a podcast earlier this offseason — this seems like a natural fit. The 5-foot-10, 197-pound Tate is a supremely versatile talent with the smarts and skill set to master multiple positions within the New England passing game. The receiver, who will be 31 before the start of the 2019 season, has also carved out a niche as a dependable presence (he’s played at least 15 games a year every year since 2011) who is steady and productive (611 career catches in eight years in the league). He already has a ring from his days with the Seahawks, but could bookend his career with another one in New England.
Randall Cobb: The 5-foot-10, 192-pound Cobb, who will turn 29 in August, has spent eight years in Green Bay and has 470 catches for 5,524 yards and 41 touchdowns. He’s a few years removed from his career-best season of 2014 (91 catches, 1,287 yards, 12 touchdowns) and has dealt with injuries the last few years, but could be another buy-low veteran. Depending on who you believe, the Patriots were interested in him as a trade deadline possibility this past season — if that’s true, I have to imagine New England is taking a good long look at the possibility now that he’s set to hit the market.
John Brown: This 5-foot-11, 178-pound veteran has had an up-and-down career, one that’s included a 1,000-yard season with the Cardinals that helped Arizona reach the NFC title game, but also included a unique stretch of health woes, including a cyst in his spine. Brown, who will turn 29 next month, has some positional versatility, and has special teams value as well (he returned punts for the Cardinals in 2016, averaging 7 yards per return on 17 chances). Last year he flourished in Baltimore — on a team that struggled to get any real traction in the passing game, he finished with 42 catches for 715 yards and five touchdowns. Like others on this list, “Smoke” is an interesting possibility — not necessarily an elite player, but one who could be an excellent complementary offensive piece in the right environment.
Brandon LaFell: