Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - LOCKED ON PATRIOTS- 2/22/17- Analyzing the Quarterback and Running Back Free Agent Market, Finding Potential Patriots

Episode Date: February 23, 2017

Chris Simoneau, Patriots Insider for Scout.com, examines the quarterback and running back free agent class to decipher which player could be wearing a Patriots uniform next season. #patriots #2017nflfreeagency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi, it's Jamie, Progressive number one, number two employee. Leave a message at the... Hey Jamie, it's me, Jamie. This is your daily pep talk. I know it's been rough going ever since people found out about your acapella group, Mad Harmony, but you will bounce back. I mean, you're the guy always helping people find coverage options with the Name Your Price tool. It should be you giving me the pep talk.

Now get out there, hit that high note, and take Mad Harmony all the way to nationals this year! Sorry, it's pitchy. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law. Good evening, I'm Chris Simino, PatriotsInsideOfAScout.com, and also your host of Locked On Patriots, your source for everything Patriots. Today is Wednesday, February 22, 2017. Today we're going to start to take a look at the free agent quarterback market And also the running back market around the NFL

We're going to decipher which guys out there would be a strong fit for the 2017 Patriots Keep in mind that there will be players, most likely veteran players, nearing the end of their careers Who will be signing for cheap money for a chance to win So the Patriots will have an advantage in that area. Again, today we're going to focus on quarterbacks and running backs. Tomorrow we're going to get into wide receivers, tight ends, and offensive lines. We'll break it up just to make it so you guys can think about what we thought about today and then we'll get into tomorrow.

It's just a little bit easier to break it all down when we do it in different days, not all at once. Before we get started, I just want my listeners to know that they can be found on Twitter under the handle Chris underscore Simono, that's C-H-R-A-S underscore S-I-M-O-N-E-A-U. If you have any questions for the show, be it about the Patriots, myself, Patriots Inside it, or if you're looking to advertise here on Lockdown Patriots, you can email me directly at simono.christopher5 at gmail.com. If you are a member of Patriots Insider on scout.com, you can contact me directly on the website via message.

Alright, enough of that, let's get to the good stuff. So free agency is an interesting thing every year. You see the same teams go in and spend a ton of money and pick up guys and make big splashes and everyone says, oh, they're going to be great next year. I'm talking about you Miami Dolphins. And they're not. And they're not the only team. There's a bunch of teams that do it every single year. They just go in and make all these big splashes and nothing comes to fruition. Occasionally the Patriots make splashes, but when they do it, it tends to work out. So this season, quarterback-wise, who knows? This may be a position of need, depending on what they do with Jimmy Garoppolo.

If they don't trade him, every word I say about this potential free agent market will be wasted air. But I get the feeling that they're going to get a huge offer that they can't decline. And they'll most likely have to bring in a free agent to pay with Jacoby Brissett as Tom Brady's backups. Yes, there's a good chance whatever veteran that is brought in will be cut before the season starts because the Patriots are famous for that, especially if Brissett develops the way they think he is. But they'll at least bring in a third arm for training camp. Here's a few of the potential veteran free agents that I think may be able to find a home in Foxborough. First one, Josh McCown, a 37-year-old career backup.

He's slightly broken through here. He got a starting opportunity and did pretty good, but he's a free agent again, and again, he's 37 years old, so he might be looking to maybe catch on with a team, a good team, maybe win one before he's all said and done. Signing with a team with New England would give him that chance to win a title before he retires.

And again, even if it is a backup, you know, the guy's been a career backup. He's proven to be a team guy. He still has a good arm, so if they do make a trade, I think McCown might be the best available option to bring in, assuming that they don't have the trust and beset to take over right away. Second guy that I'm looking at here, Matt Castle, a former Patriot, an understated free agent just like McCown. He's not been too good for the last few years, but he does know the system system he's still only 34 years old and he also fits into the same category as McCown as far as being a good teammate

which I think goes a long way when you're talking about being a backup quarterback Castle can definitely still play but again he's struggled a little bit but I think he would be alright in the Patriots system he would be cheaper than McCown too so keep an eye on him for you to see again right in the Patriots system. He would be cheaper than McCown, too. So keep an eye on him for you to see, again,

especially if the Patriots make a move here with Garoppolo. All this comes down to Garoppolo. Third guy, missed the butt fumble, Mark Sanchez. Yeah, you guys are laughing. Sanchez in New England? Really? Well, maybe. McDaniels, he tends to have success with talented but flawed quarterbacks,

and that's exactly what Sanchez is, and he fits that description to a T. There's a reason teams keep picking him up. He gets picked up whenever he gets released, and he's still only 30, so he's going to get another look from another team this spring, either that or it'll stay in Dallas. There's a chance it could be the Patriots, especially if they can't land someone that knows their system. Sanchez at least played in the division too,

so he has an idea of what to expect. And again, these coaches like him. Don't be surprised if Mark Sanchez is brought in as a training camp arm, potential backup slash third string for the Patriots next season. Next on the list, old friend Brian Hoyer, another former Patriot. Hoyer may be more of a pipe dream because he'll most likely sign with a team that has questions at their starter position. Hoyer's proven to be a great sub and a pinch,

and the team's looking to go cheap. Hoyer could possibly get a chance to compete for a job somewhere. Again, I know he's most likely not going to come back to the Patriots, but if he is available and they do trade Garoppolo, I think they should seriously consider signing the former Michigan State Spartan, a guy who people thought for a long time was going to be a first or second round pick who never even got drafted, and then the Patriots picked him up and he's turned into a pretty nice player.

So Hoier is another one to keep an eye on. Again, it all depends on if he gets a chance to be a starter or compete for time someplace else. You guys are going to notice a theme here. Ryan Mallett, notice that trend. Mallett's another former Belichick draft pick that is available in free agency. In fact, besides the immortal Kevin O'Connell, who is, I believe, completely gone from the league.

Every former Patriots backup that is any good is available in free agency this season. Now, he's been with Baltimore the last year and a half. He actually played okay when he had a chance to start for an injured Flacco. I think he most likely returns to Baltimore. I think he seems to have found a home there. But if the Patriots can't sign their top choices, they make the move that we've talked about.

Mallett's definitely going to be on their list. He has to be. They have to make sure that they have somebody just in case. I like Brissette. I think Brissette's the guy. But who knows? I'm not in practice every day, so I don't know what they're seeing. So we'll see.

Last on the list of quarterbacks, T.J. Yates. Now, this is an interesting one. People are like, T.J. Yates? What the heck? Well, Yates worked out with the Patriots last season when Brissette tore the ligament in his thumb, and they weren't sure what the deal was with Garoppolo, so they actually worked him out. They decided not to sign him, which was probably a mistake, because they probably should have signed him not knowing that Garoppolo,

they thought he was going to be available, but he wasn't. He eventually landed with the Dolphins, but he is an undershipped reagent again. Yates would be the perfect training camp arm that I spoke of earlier, a guy that can come in, lead the third-string offense, showcase himself in the preseason, and most likely get cut. So keep an eye on Yates because if they really like Brissette, I think Yates will definitely be a candidate to be brought in. And if he is, I'm telling you, that says a lot about how they feel about Brissette.

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So go to nwe.scout.com, register today. This is an unbelievable deal. Again, go to nwe.scout.com today. That's Patriots Insider. Go register. Go check it out. You get to see some of the articles that not everybody gets to see. We post this show on there, so if you happen to miss it on Audioboom

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So let's take a look at some of the free agent running backs we have here. First, I have to put him down. I know that we were looking at running backs from around the league, but this guy, he's around the league. He's LeGarrette Blount. We spoke about Blount when we did our Patriots free agents show, but when you look at the scarce free agent market for running backs, it's clear that the Patriots would be smart to offer him a small raise

and make sure they retain the services, especially after just the other day he said he loves playing in New England. Assuming they don't insult the guy with a deal less than what he made last season, they should be able to work out an agreement with the back. He's come to become the Patriots' closer. He really has. He steps up when they need him, and he makes big plays. Second guy I have on the list isn't a free agent yet either,

but he's going to be. Adrian Peterson. Interesting name to think about. Peterson, again, he's still technically a Viking, but he's going to get released, and if he really wants to play for a chance to win it all, playing for the Patriots is his best option. Peterson would fit in very well with the Patriots

because he isn't an every-down back anymore, which will allow him to go all out on the downs when they actually do use him. He could easily put up the same numbers that LeGarrette Blount put up last season, easily. But Peterson is going to demand, I believe he's going to demand, more money than the Patriots want to spend on a running back so we'll see what happens there but I do think that if Peterson truly wants to win and he says he would come here for the same maybe $4 million I think that's something that might be, it could be in the works

it could be something that happens so keep an eye on that, Adrian Peterson if you want to play for a ring, I know he's talked about going to the Cowboys and this and that, but they have Ezekiel Elliott. He's not going to replace Ezekiel Elliott. That guy's the best running back in the league. He's Peterson 10 years ago. So Peterson can still play, and I think going to a veteran-laden team like New England

where he can just kind of fit in and do his thing, he could be really good on a one-year type deal. You know, kind of like Terry Allen back in the day. I don't know if you guys remember him. Some of you young guys don't, but some of you older guys will. He was a guy that got into his 30s. It was still a really good back, and he lit it up when he went to the Redskins. And I think Peterson could probably do the same thing with New England.

Latavius Murray is another guy that I think the Patriots might be interested in. He doesn't fit the mold of a typical Patriot, but one thing is clear. The Patriots need more speed at the running back position, and Murray would be a good back to split time with Blount or whoever else they pick up. And occasionally I think he'd be the main back. He has world-class speed, and he makes small holes look big because he gets through so fast. The Patriots have a different scheme than Oakland does, but I still think Murray would flourish with the Patriots, and he may be one of the players that

they're looking at that would surprise some people. As always, it's going to come down to money, but Latavius Murray's a guy you've got to keep an eye on. I just think that they probably saw it in the Super Bowl that they weren't quite as fast as Atlanta, and that was part of the problem early in the game. And, you know, when you've got $67 million in cap space and you have an opportunity to maybe change a team up a little bit as far as adding in certain areas and you want to get faster, well, do it at running back.

That's a great place to start. Another guy that could help out with team speed, running back Christian Michael. Michael's bounced around the last two years, but he's still effective, and the Patriots might be interested in adding him to the backfield rotation. Michael has a breakaway speed. He could score from anywhere in the field. He was awesome at Texas A&M. In fact, Seattle looked like they were going to have him become their lead back.

Then all of a sudden they let him go. He goes to Dallas. You think he's going to flourish there. He doesn back. Then all of a sudden they let him go. He goes to Dallas. You think he's going to flourish there. He doesn't. Goes back to Seattle, does okay, and then the next thing you know, he's with the Packers, and he did okay with the Packers too. So I think Michael will be a player that they'll definitely look at because money-wise he's not going to be able to demand that much

because you play for that many teams in a short amount of time and you're looking at probably veteran minimum. But if they don't go after Murray or Peterson and some of the other aforementioned guys I definitely think that Christian Michael is a guy that would help out from an athleticism standpoint and I think the Patriots might be interested in him next up Eddie Lacy if Blount isn't brought back Lacy could be a guy that's targeted by New England to be kind of their big back. Lacey's very talented, but injuries and weight issues have dogged him throughout his career in the NFL. Can he stay healthy and fit? If he does, whichever team that gambles on him is going to see a huge payoff.

The Patriots like to gamble, so I wouldn't be surprised if this happens. Lacey isn't going to break the bank, but he's also not going to get paid pennies either, so the Patriots will have a good value pickup. It depends on this one, though. It depends on how much money he asks for, because I still think somebody's going to offer him close to $5 million a year. If that happens, I don't think he'll be in New England,

but if he doesn't and he takes in the 3-4 range, then I think we might be able to see a Big Eddie Lacey suiting up in a Patriots uniform. Next on the list, we've got a few more guys here. A lot of running backs to take a look at. James Starks, Lacey's backup, is also available, proving that he can carry the ball more than your typical backup, too.

He's a good player. I think if the Patriots went after Starks, I believe it would be to combine with another back like Blount or even Lacey. Imagine that. Wouldn't that be funny if the Patriots went and picked up Eddie Lacey and after Starks, I believe it would be to combine with another back like Blount or even Lacey. Imagine that. Wouldn't that be funny if the Patriots went and picked up Eddie Lacey and James Starks to put in their backfield along with their third down backs, Dion Lewis and James White? That would be interesting. Up next, Andre Ellington.

This is a kid I like. Ellington's a guy that can do it all, but he played behind that terrible offensive line in Arizona. I just think that Ellington, it could be a steal in free agency, and I know that the Patriots are going to have some interest in him. I know that they do. I know for a fact that the Patriots have interest in Ellington because they liked him when he was coming out in the draft, and a little birdie told me that they like him.

So that little birdie's pretty smart. So the Patriots have some interest in Andre Ellington. He was out for most of last season. He had an issue. Can't think of it off the top of my head. I'll have to look that up. Sorry, guys. I usually know that type of stuff right off the top of my head,

but I don't today. But I do know to keep an eye on the former Clemson Tiger, he'd be a terrific fit in this offense. He's got good hands. He's a good running back between the tackles. He's fast. Ellington, good player. Andre Ellington. Keep an eye on him. I think he could be a future Patriot. Next up, Rashad Jennings. Jennings would be a good short yardage, big back that the Patriots like to use.

But he seems like he's lost his step. Either way, he is the type of back that the Patriots would be interested in because of his past success and his contract demands or lack thereof. They're not going to be that high. He just got cut by the Giants, and he's not getting any younger. But I think Jennings is just a guy that a training camp audit would maybe keep an eye on. And last, but certainly not least,

especially for somebody who myself is an unabashed Trojans fan, Reggie Bush. Bush has always been a guy that I thought would fit perfectly into the Patriots offense and before he signed with Buffalo last season he actually met with Belichick and company so clearly they see the same thing that I do yes he is older now and he isn't the same player that he used to be but his speed and agility is still pretty ridiculous and he could be very dangerous in both the passing and running game for a team that has options all over the field.

Bush is impossible to cover one-on-one still, especially for a linebacker, and he learned how to run between the tackles when he was with the Dolphins, so he could definitely fill a role there too. I know that they have White and Lewis, and it might be a little bit too much adding another guy like him would be just a glut of third-down backs. But again, you can use Bush as a split end. You can use him as a wide receiver in the slot. You can use him in a lot of different areas.

You can use him on first down, second down, third down, wide receiver anywhere. So I wouldn't be surprised if they took another look at Bush, and if Bush was interested in maybe coming here too. Because again, like I said, veteran free agents getting close to the end of their careers that want to win, especially guys that have won in the past like Bush. They want to get that taste one more time. The Patriots are the team that they look to go to. So that's going to do it for running backs today.

I want to thank you guys all for joining us for this Wednesday night edition of Locked on Patriots. Be sure to go to iTunes and subscribe to the show today, as in right now, right this moment, and make sure you tell your friends about us here at Locked On Patriots. We're all about getting Patriots fans the most info you need to be the most in-the-know Patriots fan. So be sure to join us tomorrow.

We're going to discuss wide receivers, tight ends, and the offensive linemen that could be a strong fit for the 2017 Patriots. Again, I'm your host, Chris Cimino. Thank you all for joining us tonight, and be sure to join us again tomorrow. Have a great night, Patriots fans. Whatcha doing? Ran out of space on my phone, so I'm deleting some stuff. Bye singing dog. Bye goal.

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