For a year now, we've been talking about how the Patriots would be in a position to remake the franchise for 2021 and beyond.
It all comes to fruition today as the legal tampering period in the NFL opened at Noon.
We'll get into the latest that we're hearing in a second, but Belichick has a chance to change the narrative around him — that he's seen better days as a personnel man — very quickly.
Will he? Like Tom Brady, it's hard to doubt the man.
The last time people were widely questioning Belichick — including myself — on whether he was still the same defensive guru heading into the Super Bowl LIII vs. the Rams, he answered with a three-point shutout (maybe Matt Patricia was the problem and elevating Brian Flores was the solution). Before that, Belichick's schemes had been picked apart since 2016, and included an embarrassing performance in Super Bowl LII when the Patriots lost to the Eagles 41-33 and never came close to making Philly play left-handed.
Did Belichick lose his mojo? Not sure, but the Rams Super Bowl was a pantsing of Sean McVay. At the least, that was an answer, even if Belichick was calling all over the NFL — including to Tennessee for long chats with Mike Vrabel, who had McVay disciple Matt LaFleur as his OC — for inside dirt on McVay's scheme that had flummoxed the rest of the league.
The point is, Belichick heard the whispers and he answered emphatically.
Now, people are having the same questions about his personnel abilities coming off a 7-9.
Will he answer with his $60 million in cap space? What will it look like?
Our best guess:
The Patriots target tight ends and receivers off the bat. People around the team say that Belichick realizes that he has put the offense in a terrible position the past two years, and will try to rectify that.
But will he?
The Patriots have made grand plans — including last year's draft — to boost the offense and Belichick reverts back to his defensive self. He can't help what he has known for some 50 years, and he drafted defense with first three picks. He was forced to trade up for tight ends who didn't come close to contributing, and drafted a center in the seventh round that retired, leaving themselves no protection should David Andrews be poached in free agency.
But you combine Brady winning a Super Bowl with the Bucs — who will visit Gillette this season — and the state of this roster, you have to think Belichick is going to answer with authority.
What would we like/expect to see?
• Patriots will be after youth and versatility. Unless they're plugging a spot for a year, the Patriots will be trying to use their money to invest in multi-year players that will be here for a while.
• Tight ends should come early. It's Hunter Henry or Jonnu Smith. Patriots like both. Could be just the cheaper of the two. I go back and forth ... I'm going Smith because he's quicker, faster, more versatile and more durable.
• Then receivers. I think the Patriots will be in on a lot of them, but I would take a long hard look at a guy like Nelson Agholor. Not sure a solo outside guy like Corey Davis would be their style.
• Defensive interior would also be high up there, but I'm not sure the market will be very active so they might be able to wait a bit.
• Same goes with edge players. That might be a spot to add one or two outside players.
My previous top names
