Perry: Free agent targets for Pats as tampering window opens
Time to tamper.The NFL's legal tampering period -- where agents of free-agents-to-be can negotiate contracts with teams for two days ahead of the official start of free agency -- begins Monday at 12 p.m. ET.Have conversations already been had between free agents and prospective clubs? Of course. Quietly. But new contracts now can be agreed to and later signed when the new year begins on Wednesday.A couple notes here before we dive into some top tampering targets for the Patriots: First, players who've been released by their teams before reaching the ends of their contracts can agree to deals at any time, so you won't see any cap-casualty names listed here. Second, the names you will find here are the names who may require early action.So while players like Jets edge defender Tarrell Basham and Raiders linebacker Raekwon McMillan -- a couple of Prototypical Patriots from a few years ago -- seem like pretty good fits for New England, we won't list them here.
Perhaps the biggest-ticket item at the tight end position, Henry has battled injury in the past, but at his best he's a true inline tight end option with legit receiving chops. Will he dominate at the point of attack? No. But he'll be serviceable in that regard.
The Patriots could use serviceable blocking and a dependable target in the middle of the field. Bill Belichick is close with both Henry's high school coach (Kevin Kelley of Pulaski Academy) and college coach (Bret Bielema) so he'll have all the information he needs on Henry if he wants to make a big investment here.
Curran's bold free-agency predictions: Pats splurge at TE
Smith might not cost quite as much as Henry, but he could be every bit as valuable. While Smith is more of a "matchup" option who would provide some next-level athleticism at the move tight end spot, the Patriots still could still use a real inline threat should they invest in the 25-year-old.
There's no doubt Josh McDaniels would have some fun playing with Smith as a moveable chess piece who can be motioned all over formations to dictate 1-on-1 matchups.
UPDATE (March 15, 1 p.m. ET): Smith has agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract with the Patriots in free agency, per his agent.
Curran: Here's who's on our Patriots free-agent wish list
More receiver than true maul-you-in-the-running-game tight end, Everett was originally drafted by the Rams to play in the Jordan Reed role that the Washington Football Team when Sean McVay was there. No matter. The Patriots could use that type of pass-catcher at the position.
So long as Everett can hold up in the running game, the vertical routes he could run from the interior would give McDaniels a seam presence he hasn't had in a couple of years.
It's taken a while for Davis to pop after being drafted No. 5 overall in 2017. In his fourth season -- Tennessee declined to pick up his fifth-year option prior to the 2020 campaign -- he caught 65 passes for 984 yards and five touchdowns. A lot of that might've been helped by defenses focusing on Davis' teammate AJ Brown, but Davis is pretty clearly a solid No. 2 who can play on the outside.
This year's draft class is loaded with talented slot options, which might make Davis more attractive on the open market.
UPDATE (March 15, 8 p.m. ET): Davis is headed to the New York Jets on a three-year, $37.5 million deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Here's a good complement for Davis should the Patriots go in that direction. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder posted 851 yards on 77 catches in 2020 under new Carolina offensive coordinator Joe Brady. He can play inside and had 66 slot targets last year (11th in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus), catching 82 percent of them (3rd). He also averaged 1.84 yards per route run from the interior (2nd).
Don't laugh and immediately think back to that meme you remember. Agholor was good in 2020. He caught 48 passes for 896 yards and eight touchdowns as one of the top deep threats in a productive Raiders offense. He has experience playing in the slot as well as outside and if he can replicate his 2020 production he'll be a perfectly suitable No. 2 or 3.
UPDATE (March 15, 6:20 p.m. ET): Agholor is on his way to New England, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
Another ideal height-weight-speed player for an edge rusher in Bill Belichick's 3-4 style defense, Ngakoue has bounced from Jacksonville to Minnesota to Baltimore, but he's produced everywhere he's been. In five seasons, he has 45.5 sacks.
The drawback? He'll be pricey, and he's not known for being incredibly stout against the run. Same goes for his fellow free-agent edge Carl Lawson of the Cincinnati Bengals. But both players have the athleticism and body types to be firm on early downs. Does Belichick believe he can coach it into them?
UPDATE (March 15, 6:25 p.m. ET): Ngakoue is signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reports.
If the Patriots want a run defender on the edge, Clowney would make plenty of sense. At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds he's never been the type of pass-rusher you'd expect in a No. 1 overall draft choice. But on first and second down he knows how to bully people. That's what the Patriots could use. If he's motivated -- he's become a hired gun the last few seasons as he seeks out top-end payouts -- he could help change New England's run defense.
Tomlinson (6-foot-3, 320) could be an option to serve as the latest Patriots nose tackle after last year's acquisition, Beau Allen, never took the field. Tomlinson doesn't have to play right over centers, but he can defend from just about anywhere on the inside. If you want him, you might be looking at paying him in the tens of millions of dollars per year, but his Alabama pedigree, his versatility and his power in the running game could make him one of Belichick's top targets this week.
Rankins (6-foot-2, 320) isn't quite the same body type as Tomlinson, and he might not be as expensive, as he's missed 10 games over the last two seasons. But he was a scary pass-rusher in 2018 -- eight sacks, 46 pressures -- and he's been stout against the run when healthy. If the Patriots lose Adam Butler or Lawrence Guy to free agency, there would be plenty of available playing time for Rankins to cut into.
