Five Free Agents the Patriots WON'T sign


NFL free agency begins officially on the 12th March (next Tuesday), but it effectively starts on Saturday, when “legal tampering” can start. And the New England Patriots, despite reaching the AFC Chamionship game two years running, will have to be fairly active if they want to take the next step.

And fans are pretty expectant after Tom Brady’s recent contract extension that the team will be busy, and rumors are flying around about who the Patriots will sign. However, I shall look at this from the other side.

Here are 5 Free Agents that the Patriots definitely, absolutely will not sign*:
*Subject to me being wrong.

Mike Wallace – WR


As much as I would LOVE to see Mike Wallace playing for the Patriots next year, I just don’t see it. The cash just doesn’t work out. He wants too much, and other teams are willing to give him that money. I’m not saying he’s not worth that money, just the Patriots won’t pay him. Wallace is a dynamic and speedy receiver, a deep threat that the Pats have been lacking since Randy Moss. I think Wallace does end up in the AFC East though, at the Miami Dolphins.

Ed Reed – S

Reed should probably do the smart thing and retire on top like a certain other Baltimore Raven… But he wants to keep playing, and fair play to him. Can I see him landing in New England? I’d love it if he did (There’s no doubt Pats @ Ravens is season opener if he does), but I don’t see it. I don’t know why, because it all fits like Rodney Harrison did. But I think he stays in Baltimore, to help the team transition without He Who Shall Not Be Named, or he ends up with the Indianapolis Colts, who have the cap space and need the leadership.


Charles Woodson – S

Another ageing safety I don’t see landing with the Patriots. A cornerback who has transferred to safety, Woodson is a big name who’s looking for one last shot. But he’s missed a lot of time with injuries, and we already have a guy who’s basically a young Charles Woodson, in the form of Devin McCourty. Besides, there are other teams looking at him who need him more, so are willing to overpay, something the Pats won’t do.


Cliff Avril - DE

The pass rush is definitely an area of concern heading into the new season, and certainly Cliff Avril would be a guy who'd improve that. But he's looking for elite DE money, and quite frankly, he's just not worth it. The Patriots are quite happy with their DE's with Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich, so they're not going to throw elite money at a guy who's not necessarily that good or that needed in New England. A Defensive Tackle like Cullen Jenkins would interest the Patriots to go along with Vince Wilfork, but Avril isn't the missing piece in the front 7.

Wes Welker - WR


Sorry folks, as much as I hate to say it, I don't think #83's coming back. I think too much has happened for it to work out, especially with the news coming out that Welker's going to test the market. With the franchise tag last year and the Julian Edelman experiment at the beginning of the season, I think the teams differ too much on what Welker's worth,  and as much as I think they both want to stay, the relationship has just broken down, and Welker will move onto another contender in the NFL.

Agree/Disagree? Comment below, or let me know on Twitter @BrendanAnnely

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