Bedard: As cap space dwindles after spree, a look what could be coming for the Patriots, specifically at QB

The Patriots love versatility.

And not just with their players.

When the Patriots set out to add to their roster, from various (draft day, trade deadline, offseason) trades, free-agent signings — even shopping sprees like the last two days — and their next quarterback, the team prides itself in having multiple options. It keeps them from being leveraged by any player, agent or any team.

In an offseason like this one, when some agents were preparing their free agents to be underwhelmed by the amount and volume of offers, the Patriots knew they were in a buyer's market for the most part. Lots of houses for sale, but not many other deep-pocketed owners wandering around to snatch them up. Even among the other high rollers, it was the Patriots against teams like the Jets, Jaguars and Washington — not exactly qualified buyers when it comes to winning games in the NFL.

The Colts certainly had some impressive paperwork, but their buyer (GM Chris Ballard) is fairly picky and on the lookout for a great deal. He might look at 15 houses, go back multiple times for his favorite, but take forever to actually put in a bid, and then it's usually below ask and that takes more time...

Enter Bill Belichick.

He's studied up the neighborhood he wants to buy in, knows every single property, and has targeted two or three houses he could see himself living well in. Then he floats his target price, starting with his preferred target. If the owners dally, then it's on to the next one with the same offer. "You might want to act quick, I didn't see too many other people at open houses," Belichick might say.

The players with realists for agents, some of whom want to be sure they get their best fee quickly as well, told their players, "You might not want to pass this up. This might be the best offer you might get."

Enter: Jonnu Smith, Davon Godchaux, Matt Judon, Jalen Mills.

TE1. Check.
NT1. Check.
Edge1. Check.
Experienced DB starter. Check.

Took Nelson Agholor a little longer to come around — they probably wanted to make a couple calls seeking other offers — but the Patriots wanted him.

WR1-ish. Check.

Then it was checking off the grocery list.

WR3 (Kendrick Bourne). Check.
DL backup (Henry Anderson). Check.

Quite the Day 1.

When it came to Smith, the Patriots might well have put out an offer — at least a feeler — to Hunter Henry at the same time, but the Patriots were quite content when Smith jumped at their generous offer. Henry and his agent, late Monday night or early Tuesday, might have had second thoughts and gotten nervous.

"Is that offer still out there? We might have something for you."

TE1B. Check..mate.

Quite the haul for the Patriots. The comments and concerns hold true from Monday — it's really hard to make this many new pieces work in one offseason even without Covid possibly limiting on-field work and locker room camaraderie (sure, it's Belichick ... but Andy Reid was fired by the Eagles two years after their Dream Team lockout offseason after the 2011 lockout) — but the Patriots' work has been surgical and impressive. Without question, they are much more talented.

I did want to take the time to give the other side on one talking point. Some have equated what the Patriots are doing this offseason with 2007, when the Patriots signed Adalius Thomas and Donte Stallworth, and traded for Randy Moss and Wes Welker following a disappointing '06 campaign.

I asked a Patriots-affiliated source about that.

"Yeah, well, you know what happened after '07? We had to reset it again in 2010."

So, food for thought.

Back to the present...

For those wondering, everything between positions and who might be on the way out will proven on the field and after the draft. I can tell you that, as opposed to Rob "Y" Gronkowski and Aaron "F" Hernandez, these two tight ends are interchangeable in the Patriots' system ... which could be a blessing or a curse (we'll get into that in a few days once the coast is clear on any more major moves).

But there is still work left to be done.

• How much money do the Patriots have left?


• What about David Andrews and Lawrence Guy?


• They're not really going to go with Cam Newton at quarterback are they?