When the new season starts and the NFL team's 53-man roster is set, it’s unlikely that fans in New England will be interested in talking about the missed opportunities the team had in mid-March. But so far in free agency, the Patriots—despite having a lot of money to spend—have not added important players and only have near-misses and close calls to show for their efforts. PatriotsThe latest example is
wide receiver Chargers Keenan Allen , who could have been the type of top threat the Patriots need at the position. Allen was available for a trade this week, and on Thursday, hegot traded to the Bears for a fourth-round pick. The Patriots apparently thought that was too expensive. Allen caught
108 passes for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns last season, and earned a Pro Bowl spot, even with starting quarterback Justin Herbert missing four games. According to Andrew Callahan and his colleague at the Boston Herald, Doug Kyed, on Twitter/X: “The
inquired about Allen, among others, according to #Patriots . It seems like a fourth-rounder was too pricey. Allen finished last season with 1,243 receiving yards and will turn 32 next month. He's in the final year of his contract with an $18.1 million base salary.” @DougKyedKeenan Allen Slated to Earn $23 Million Next Year
There are obvious reasons why Allen was available for trade, and his age and salary are at the top of that list. Allen is set to have a
$23 million salary cap impact this year. But passing on the opportunity to acquire Allen moves the Patriots closer to having the same struggling group of receivers they had last year. The Patriots missed out on their top choice
Calvin Ridley , who was their first near-miss this offseason. They were expected to get Ridley, but he ended up choosing the Titans late in the process with a four-year, $92 million deal.Getting Allen would have been a simpler process—Allen wouldn't have a say in where he goes if he's traded. He is costly and relatively old, but the team needs some temporary solutions if it wants to be competitive in 2024, and Allen only has one year left on his contract. He wouldn't be a long-term burden.
The Patriots could have offered their own fourth-round pick, which is No. 103 overall. The pick the Bears sent to the Chargers is No. 110 overall. The opportunity was there for the Patriots.
Patriots Have Underperformed in Free Agency
As things stand, the result of the Patriots’ large amount of cap space so far has been re-signing their own players, the ones who contributed to the team's 4-13 record last season. Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett and running back Antonio Gibson are the top new signings, coming over from a Washington team that also went 4-13. The Patriots added lineman
Chukwuma Okorafor (who had been benched in Pittsburgh), tight end Austin Hooper (on his fourth team in four years) and Sione Takitaki , expected to be a third linebacker on the outside.This is not the kind of result many were hoping for with the Patriots.
The lack of a new receiver is the most disappointing part, as Kendrick Bourne returns and seems to be in the top role for now. Disappointing signee Juju Smith-Schuster is still with the team, as is another disappointing player, second-rounder Tyquan Thornton.
Demario Douglas, the team’s 5-foot-8 energetic player, is the leading receiver coming back from 2023.
The Patriots had the chance to exchange for star WR Keenan Allen but chose not to surrender a 4th-round selection.
