Some thoughts on the Patriots' slow start to free agency, what might be coming, and updated like/don't like lists while contemplating if the team will hold this year's free agency press conference in a broom closet (I kid) ...
• What a difference a year makes. On the first day of tampering last year, the Patriots took the NFL world by storm and quickly. Looking back at last year's live blog, these were the times on the first day:
12:43 Robert Spillane
1:09 Carlton Davis
1:31 Morgan Moses
2:11 Milton Williams
4:50 Khyiris Tonga
5:38 Josh Dobbs
7:05 Mack Hollins
That was the first day, March 12. The Patriots started back up again on March 14 with K'Lavon Chaisson, Wes Schweitzer, Marcus Epps. Garrett Bradbury happened on March 18.
That the Patriots have only coughed up, so far, DE Dre'Mont Jones and FB Reggie Gilliam, an indictment on New England's brass? I wouldn't say that. I would say it's more indicative of the good work they did last year and in the draft to sure up a lot of the holes that dotted this roster.
• The biggest question is, are the Patriots better than they were when they walked off the field in Santa Clara? Of course they aren't — but there are still a lot of options for them to get a lot better. Maybe they are deadset on trading for AJ Brown, or another receiver trade emerges (Brian Thomas Jr.). There are plenty of guard and tight end upgrades out there. There is still time for the Patriots to get better. But also remember that Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf told all of us at the combine that they were building, and they mentioned depth.
• Sorry to say I told you so, but a slow start in spending should not have been a surprise. My new updated available cash budget total is $48,199,533. Of course, that could be increased by the Krafts, and I think they would should the right opportunity present itself, like some sort of trade.
• Do they need to replace Stefon Diggs? Heck yeah. This situation, where the market got carried away again (Patriots were very interested in Alec Pierce and Jalen Nailor at a reasonably high price), is why I was against moving on from Diggs so early. I would have seen the market played out and gone from there.
• Where are things on the Brown trade front? Patriots are