Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots Aggressive Moves Redefine Free Agency: Milton Williams, Carlton Davis and More

Starting point is 00:00:00 Mike Drabel vowed the New England Patriots would be aggressive in their approach to free agency. That might have been the understatement of the year. Stick around, you're about to be locked in to the Locked On Patriots podcast. You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello to all of you Foxboro faithful. Thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage.

Starting point is 00:00:36 I'm your host Mike DeBate and I cover your New England Patriots for the Locked On Podcast Network. Reach out to me, let me know what's on your mind on X at M-BATE NFL. You can also catch me where the skies are blue on bluesky at mdabateenfl.besky.social. If you're looking to show some love to Locked On Patriots, social media style that is, follow our X account at LO underscore Patriots. And Pat's fans, today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. Pat's fans, it has been an interesting day in New England. It's been an interesting day in the NFL. It's been a real interesting day for Pat's Nation. And, Murph, do you know how many times the Patriots were aggressive on Monday?

Starting point is 00:01:27 Yep. Nine times. They were aggressive nine times since the start of free agency. All right. I'm cheating a little bit. I know it was seven times actually on Monday. Two of the signings broke on Sunday evening, but within that time period, the New England Patriots added some significant capital to their roster. Linebacker Harold Landry, tight end Austin Hooper,

Starting point is 00:01:52 linebacker Robert Spillane, cornerback Carlton Davis, offensive tackle Morgan Moses, defensive tackle Milton Williams, another defensive tackle Kairi Stanga, quarterback Josh Dobbs, wide receiver Mack Hollins, all new or returning members of your New England Patriots. And folks here on Lockdown Patriots, that's exactly what we're going to discuss today. All the Patriots' arrivals, what they all mean for this franchise moving forward. And Murph, we had you as a guest

Starting point is 00:02:23 here two times in one week before maybe even three times in one week but two times in one day in one day I think we might be breaking a record here folks joining me is the only man that would wake up early to join Lockdown Patriots and prolong his bedtime to join Lockdown Patriots my good friend the legend himself Thomas Murphy thank you for coming to me in friendship today. Don Murph. What a day. This is an amazing day. We got two of my Christmas presents awful damn early

Starting point is 00:02:57 this time around. Last year we were sitting there and wondering, well, who are you gonna, why didn't they throw any money? Where's all the cash that's being burned? There was nobody there to burn the cash on. there and wondering, well, who are you gonna, you know, why didn't they throw any money? Where's all the cash that's being burned? There was nobody there to burn the cash on. Okay, they tried and those guys, you know, decided to go elsewhere. They went out, got themselves a franchise type quarterback, quote unquote, and a brand new coach who has a clue, a brand new front office that obviously has a clue.

Starting point is 00:03:27 And it is, man. It's a good day to be a Patriots fan. Yeah, it truly is. The Patriots wasting no time, sparing no expense, and bringing in a lot of capital here, bringing in a lot of players that filled a lot of potential holes on this roster. Now, amazingly, with the shopping spree that happened in one Patriots place in Foxborough today, Patriots still not done yet. There are still holes to be filled on this roster. We're going to get

Starting point is 00:03:54 into those in just a moment. But Murph, I think we'd be remiss if we did not begin with the signing of the day. The New England Patriots bolstering their defensive front, reportedly signing now former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams to a four-year $104 million contract. That deal includes $63 million guaranteed. Carolina Panthers have looked like they were going to get Milton's services. They were working on a deal. New England upped its price and they would not be denied. And now Milton Williams is entering Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Starting point is 00:04:30 Murph, there's so much to like about this signing. I understand the price tag is high, but when you look at the logistics, the fit, to me, this is the guy that you needed to get. Kudos to the Patriots for going out and getting them. No doubt. No doubt. I thought for sure I was gonna wake up today and hear that Milton Williams had resigned with the Eagles. They always seemed to figure out a way to do that and they didn't. But this kid is, he is a kid, he's 25 years old.

Starting point is 00:05:00 All right, I have children older than Milton Williams. Okay, two, two kids older than Milton Williams. And he was definitely the best player on the field in the playoffs last season. Definitely the best player on the field in the NFC championship game and in the Super Bowl. This is a home run. Anybody who doesn't consider this an A- signing is is is kidding themselves. They're just trying to make their own news. Yeah absolutely. I mean I really look at this and I look at the high price tag but then I look at how much this immediately upgrades the Patriots front seven.

Starting point is 00:05:37 This man's making more money than Tom Brady ever made as a Patriot. Exactly he eclipses Tom Brady now as the highest paid Patriot of all time. Of course, I do believe within a couple of years time Drake may well eclipse that. But that's a conversation for another day. Right now, this is Milton Williams day and let him have it. Right. Monster year in 2024, five sacks, a career high 40 quarterback pressures last year. Those 40 pressures were four more than Williams had in the previous two seasons combined. What you're looking at right now is a kid that is continuing to grow and I think the Patriots are still catching him on the upswing. Of course you can make the argument his star shined brightest

Starting point is 00:06:17 when the spotlight was brightest in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. He was one of the best players on the field during that game. Two sacks, two stops, four total pressures. This kid can get it done in the regular season. He can get it done in the postseason. Again, this is the kind of player that you want to lock up and be a cornerstone for your defense for many years to come. Yeah, I saw Josh Sweatt during the Super Bowl walk over to Williams and brush some some Patty Mahomes off of him. You know, got a little Patty Mahomes on you there. We're gonna get rid of that. Well,

Starting point is 00:06:49 but this was yeah, this was this was brilliant. So brilliant signing the Patriots as you said, we're not gonna be denied. Five sacks last year, ten quarterback hits, seven tackles for a loss. This is the man that's gonna come in here and run the show or help run the show on this defensive line. Um, Rabil's building a bully and uh, and he wasn't done there today. No, he was not done there today because the Patriots continued to build that defensive

Starting point is 00:07:19 line and let's continue on with the line here. defensive tackle coming in Kyrie's Tonga the Patriots agreeing to a one-year 2.7 million dollar deal that deal was first reported by NFL media this afternoon 28 years old played 53 games so far. He's been around the block a little bit He's played with the Falcons the Bears the Vikings the Cardinals But he is a solid presence against the run and the Patriots needed that Cardinals, but he is a solid presence against the run and the Patriots needed that. Have traded Devon Gacha to the New Orleans Saints earlier in the day. So you need someone that could come in big bodied, stop the run. This kid's six, four, 338 pounds, 89 tackles in his career, one fumble

Starting point is 00:07:58 recovery, four batted passes and a half sack. So he can get the job done all throughout, but this kid's got run defender written all over him. Yeah, I talked to my man Thorne Eistrom about him and he was he was thrilled for the kid. This is a space eater. This is a guy who just eats up a massive amount of an offensive line. He commands their attention and really allows other people to get in there and make those plays and we're gonna get to those other people in just a few minutes. But, you know, as, as you said, um,

Starting point is 00:08:30 one of the biggest glaring needs last year on this Patriots defense was an ability to stop the run. They just could not do it. Right. They could not get an opponent off the field. They could not stop people on third down, third and short, third and long. You know, you were, I saw draw plays that were going off for 12 and 14 yards. And this is a fantastic depth move, a fantastic rotational move. It was money well spent. It was money smartly spent. Yes, absolutely. We talked about this several times here on Locked on Patriots

Starting point is 00:09:07 last year. A huge regression from the way this team defended the run in 2023, and then the regression that you saw in 2024. The moves that they made today, I think, ensure that they will not be going backward. They're only going to be moving forward. And I guess that leads me quite nicely into my final question for you on both the Williams and the Tonga signings. Christian Barmore right now, we don't know a whole lot about his future. It may be a while, folks, before we actually do, but I think the moves that the Patriots made today put them in good shape,

Starting point is 00:09:38 even if Christian is not able to come back. You've got Williams, you've got Tonga. It gives you the opportunity to field a solid front seven. But Christian Barmore can come back and even be half of what he was. You're talking an elite level front seven at this point with Christian Barmore in this lineup. I think they will.

Starting point is 00:09:57 I think Barmore will be back. He'll be back as good as ever. I'm gonna keep that kind of positive mental attitude about this signing. And like I said, man, there's a bully on the defensive side of the ball right now. And it starts with that front four and then moves back into the linebacking crew. And then now into the secondary, because we've got one of the best shut down secondaries in the league. We absolutely do. And folks, we're going to talk about that secondary and we're going to actually dip into a little bit of the middle part of that linebacking crew. But the secondary was certainly not neglected by the New England Patriots because the defensive additions that the Patriots made took this defense from bottom of the barrel

Starting point is 00:10:45 perhaps back up to the elite level they're used to playing at. We're going to talk Carlton Davis, Robert Spillane when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. A proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team, every day. This is a message from sponsor Intuit Turbo Tax. Taxes was waiting and wondering and worrying if you were going to get any money back, and then waiting, wondering and worrying some more. Now taxes is matching with a Turbo Tax expert who can do your taxes as soon as today. An expert who gives your taxes their undivided attention as they work

Starting point is 00:11:25 on your return while you get real-time updates on their progress so you can focus on your day. An expert who will find you every deduction possible and file every form, every investment, everything with 100% accuracy. Also, you can get the most money back guaranteed. No waiting, no wondering, no worries. Now this is taxes. Get an expert now on TurboTax.com. Only available with TurboTax live full service. Real-time updates only in iOS mobile app. See guaranteed details at TurboTax.com slash guarantees.

Starting point is 00:12:09 That's fans. Thank you once again for joining us here today on Locked on Patriots. We are delving into the Patriots myriad of moves that they made on day one of the NFL's negotiation period. When it comes to free agency, of course, folks, all of the deals, all of the excitement that we experience on Monday and Tuesday can't become officially official until noontime on Wednesday, March 12th. But here today to help break it all down for not the first time today, folks, but the second time today, welcoming back my good friend, Thomas Murphy.

Starting point is 00:12:40 Murph, in the previous segment, we talked about the Patriots front 7 and the Patriots, in your words, building a bully when it comes to the moves that they've made to try to keep this, to try to bring this defense back, not only back to respectability, but also instill some fear in opposing offenses when they have to go against this defensive unit. Mike Vrabel clearly prioritizing this side of the ball, and it's showing in most of the moves that they made. Milton Williams, Kairis Tonga, we love both moves. But there was a move to be made on Monday that I think made a lot of Patriots fans smile. And it really hearkens back to the days where two shut-down corners are patrolling the defensive backfield at Gillette Stadium, and of course, wearing those Patriots' road jerseys as well. One of the signings I really loved was the signing of cornerback Carlton Davis. I think this is equally as important to the

Starting point is 00:13:34 secondary as Williams is going to be to that front seven. The Patriots struggled to cover multiple receiver sets last year. They're not going to have that problem this year. Carlton Davis is a dedicated presence. He's a dedicated number two. He's a guy that loves playing man coverage. As a matter of fact, he had one of the highest rates of man coverage in the league last year. He knows Tyrell Williams from his time in Detroit. Again, a hefty price tag, but the Patriots have to overpay

Starting point is 00:14:00 to get these guys to come here, folks. Logistically, I love what this kid can do opposite Christian Gonzalez. Yeah, I really do. This is going back to, you know, tie law lawyer, Malloy type days with the talent that the Patriots now have outside the numbers.

Starting point is 00:14:21 You can, we can, you know, certainly talk about guys that are that are still here that that might you know still be here you know when when when all is said and done you know but see what's happening with Marcus Jones you know and you know there's Alex Austin Isaiah Bolden. The amount of talent that the Patriots now possess, especially if they bring back Jones, is staggering. And I'd like to see that happen. They took care of things up front. You want to run the ball? You're not going to. They took care of things in the back. You want to throw the ball down? No, not going to do that either.

Starting point is 00:15:05 Because we're going to play some press man and you're going to have to, you know, find it, find a new way to beat the New England Patriots. So far, I mean most of last year, all we talked about was if the Patriots can get to 24 points, if they can get to 26, 28 points. Now it's going to be the opponents. Can you get to 18 points? Can you get to 17 points? That's this, this is winning football. Okay. This is 1970s, 1980s, 1990s style of winning football, winning in the trenches, winning with defense, this, it's a beautiful thing.

Starting point is 00:15:40 I love what the, the Philadelphia Eagles have resurrected. beautiful thing. I love what the Philadelphia Eagles have resurrected. And you know, dare I say, it's a very Belichickian looking type defense right now in New England. It really is. You look at dominant secondary, a shutdown secondary, a bully up front, and a middle linebacking crew, and a linebacking crew that is versatile enough to be able to defend against the run and the pass. And before we come back to Carlton Davis for just a moment, Murph, I also want to talk about a move the Patriots made in the middle of the linebacking crew. The Pats also enlisted the services of Raiders linebacker Rob Spillane. Now this was actually the first move announced on Monday for the New England Patriots and a lot of Pats fans were excited about this the moment they heard it.

Starting point is 00:16:26 They knew that Raiders fans wanted to keep this guy in Las Vegas and when you started to dissect this move and you started to feel the layers back, you can see why. He's a very cerebral football player, a very smart football player tactically on the field. A lot of people have called him Mike Vrabel-like, and I do think that's an apt comparison. Now, he's not Mike Vrabel the player, folks, but the style that he plays, the type of attitude he brings to the field is something that I think Mike is going to love. Ironically, he began his career under Vrabel.

Starting point is 00:16:57 He was an undrafted rookie free agent with the Tennessee Titans in 2018, played one year there, then moved over, played with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike's former team before he joined the Patriots. And then he joined the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, where he actually won Defensive Player of the Week in one of those weeks. And at this point, he's coming to the Patriots now. I think he's going to add a good amount of tackling prowess at 8.5 sacks. This really kind of set the tone for me on the day Murph, because it showed the type of defense Mike Grable wants to put out.

Starting point is 00:17:29 If it is that aggressive, no nonsense type of group. Um, I think Rob Spillane is a perfect addition to that. It, it's, it's the new prototype and Spillane is the, is the quicker, uh, middle linebacker, the quicker linebacker. And that's what we're, we're we're working on. Juwan Bentley is going into his contract here so you can tell that the Patriots are looking forward, okay, not just looking back and this is not a stopgap move. This is the style of linebacker that the Patriots want to play with, that Vrebel wants to play with, the faster downhill guy,

Starting point is 00:18:05 the faster guy from sideline to sideline, Spillane is that. He's a little iffy in coverage, I think. He's not the best coverage guy on the planet. But no, he's gonna lay the lumber. He's gonna lay the lumber. And that's the attitude that Mike Vrabel wants from his defense. Absolutely and very very well said on that and it leads me quite nicely into my final question for you on this defense. Before folks we flip the script

Starting point is 00:18:35 and we talk about some offensive additions. Yeah the Patriots made a few of those too, some intriguing ones. Just a moment keep that under your hat but when it comes to the defense Murph, obviously Williams is going to be your big ticket item followed very closely by Carlton Davis Yep, Tonga Spillane. These are going to be moves that are going to be complimentary moves But I think strong moves for the New England Patriots, right? They've definitely gotten stronger They've gotten tougher and they've clearly gotten faster My question to you is have they injected enough athleticism into this unit to take a major step forward in 2025 and if so or if not what moves are still

Starting point is 00:19:13 on the table that need to be made for this defense to take that step? I think they've injected enough relief in this uh this on the defensive side of the ball to allow the players that are already here to play that much better. Okay, we've talked for years that Bill Belichick drafted and brought in players unlike anybody else on the planet because he would bring somebody in or draft somebody because I could simply use them for eight plays a game or six plays a game and give being being able to give those breaks to the guys that are already on the roster you know the Joanne Bentley's the Anthony Jennings the you know the the Christian Ellis's you know it this is the Jonathan Jones's

Starting point is 00:20:03 this is going to be a huge uplift for them, not just for the team, and allow them to excel in a way that they haven't been able to because they've been asked to do too much. Absolutely. And you know, Murph, defensive coaches were having them some fun on Monday, no question about it. But the offensive side of the ball

Starting point is 00:20:23 added some pretty interesting talent as well. The Pats addressing not only the offensive line, but also bringing in a backup quarterback and potentially an all purpose wide receiver. We're going to get into the moves that the New England Patriots made on offense in just a moment. When this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast wraps up right here on the Locked On Podcast Network, your

Starting point is 00:20:45 team, every day. Locked On listeners, March Madness is here and FanDuel is giving you the chance to get in on the action like never before. Right now, new customers can get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. That's 200 extra bucks to use on everything, from buzzer beaters to Cinderella stories, and even who's cutting down the nets. I've got my eye on a few underdogs this year,

Starting point is 00:21:15 and FanDuel makes it easy to back them with spreads, totals, and game prompts. And the FanDuel app is simple to use. When I win, I get paid instantly. No waiting around. So visit FanDuel.com and get in on the College Hoops action all tournament long. FanDuel.com. That's fans. Thank you for joining us here today on Locked On Patriots as we recap day one of negotiation

Starting point is 00:21:44 day. Yeah, negotiation day seems to be the term that we're using. We used it this morning, Murph. I guess that's kind of how they're referring to the legal tampering period now. But day one in the books, and what a day it was for the New England Patriots. Eight additions to this squad, one re-signing, nine times did the Patriots go to the well, put pen to paper, and bring in some new talent to help bring the Patriots back to respectability for at least one day, Murph. I think the Patriots are back among the respectable teams in the league. A lot of eyes open throughout the league right now, looking at the way this defense was built. And that's progress for the New England Patriots right now. A lot of moves being made on the defensive side of the ball.

Starting point is 00:22:26 We've talked about them. Let's talk about the moves that were made on offense and let's start with the big round men up front that you love to talk about. Let's do that. We talked a little bit this morning, Murph, when you joined me about the potential of Dan Moore, maybe joining the New England Patriots. We talked a little bit about Cam Robinson, we talked a little bit about Ronnie Stanley and how he was no longer on the table. Well, Dan Moore got

Starting point is 00:22:51 taken off the table pretty quickly and to the tune of 80 million, that is a hefty, hefty price tag. However, the New England Patriots were not about to be shut out of the tackle market. They knew they needed one. They went out and got a veteran. And what better way to do it? They stole one from the Jets. I love it. Morgan Moses comes in on a three year, $24 million contract, max value of $28.5 million,

Starting point is 00:23:17 34 years old, did have some health issues. But when this guy's locked in, he's a solid right tackle. He's a veteran presence, someone that is known to be a mentor to younger players. I think this is going to be a good signing for the Patriots. It is a stop gap, but at the same time, I think desperately needed the Patriots needed some continuity, some stability on this line. I think they got some today and Morgan Moser. Yeah, they sure did and you know that the underlying current that that you have to understand here is is with with this signing of Morgan Moses, Mike Anwayu is a right guard.

Starting point is 00:23:57 Yes. That's it. Okay. There's there's no moving him back out to you know stem the tide with the fact that, you know, there's just, there was nobody on this offensive line last year besides him who will be able to do it. Anwayu is a right guard. He's one of the best sense in today's activity. Like Mike had brought up a little bit earlier that my man went to Tennessee for $80 million.

Starting point is 00:24:38 God. Four years and 60 million, I was all in million I was I was all in, you know, for 80 million dollars. That's it. That goes to show you how coveted or how difficult it is to find a left tackle, just a starting caliber left tackle. All right. I like Dan Moore because he was steady. He came to work every day. I think he's a much better past protector than a lot of people working for For Newspapers in this town give him credit for I do I don't give him 80 million dollars worth of credit

Starting point is 00:25:18 I don't but it goes to show you that you have to draft these guys You have to draft and develop these guys you have have to draft them high in the draft, okay? And then hang on to them because they just don't hit free agency. And when guys do hit free agency, when guys do hit free agency, they get overpaid. Dan Moore was seriously overpaid, okay? Not a lot of people were gonna go out on that limb

Starting point is 00:25:43 and pay him that kind of money. I certainly wasn't even with the amount of cap space that the Pats have, but no, this is a fantastic signing. If for nothing else, the Patriots are going to have a mentor there for the next guy up, and they are going to have a solid piece in in line trying to keep Drake May, you know, photogenic. All right. As photogenic as he wants. But Wallace couldn't have a better teacher, a better tutor, a better mentor than the Patriots went out and got for him today and they got it at a very decent price. Yeah absolutely. Eight million dollars a year average annual salary for this signing. I think it was eleven million dollars was guaranteed. Yeah Morgan Moses is gonna come in here and be a pro. Without question and I'm

Starting point is 00:26:41 glad you mentioned with Wallace because I do believe that is who he is going to mentor now. Kaden now can come back, take his time coming back from an injury-riddled first year in the NFL. He can learn from someone again, like I said before, that is known for being a very good mentor. And Moses, I think, comes in here and will lend a degree of stability. Once again, assuming good health. And you have to always take that with a grain of salt, because health is always the, is always the great equalizer on this. And I don't mean to downplay it, but last season, 14 starts for the Jets, 722 offensive snaps, was only credited with allowing 2 sacks. And I think that shows right there what this guy is capable of doing when he is locked in. Like you said, it's about keeping Drake May photogenic, keep him pretty, keep him upright.

Starting point is 00:27:30 You're doing your job. And I think that will allow that right side now of the New England Patriots offensive line to remain stable. Murph, as the day gave way to the evening on Monday, the Patriots still weren't done yet. They had two more tricks up their sleeve before the day was essentially put to bed. The Patriots added, in my opinion, an interesting ex-receiver, someone that can not only bolster special teams, but could be a contributor on the field at the X, and that is former Buffalo Bills receiver Mac Collins. Maybe the surprise move of the day for the Patriots, adding a backup quarterback in Josh Dobbs. The astronaut will land in Foxboro this season

Starting point is 00:28:11 and assuming he's gonna be the primary backup to Drake May. So my question to you, oh great Sage, is of these two signings, which was the bigger eye opener for you? Which one do you think could pay more dividends for the Patriots in 2025? Wow, that's a really good question and I want to say Josh Jobs. You really do. But

Starting point is 00:28:36 Hollins is a solid depth signing. He's somebody that's going to come in here and do He's somebody that's going to come in here and do what he does. Be a big red zone target. Somebody that Drake May is going to be able to take advantage of down there. know, maybe push a Jalen Polk, a Javon Baker, a Kaishan Bhute a little bit and show them that this is what it means to be a professional because they haven't learned it from anybody that's on this roster right now. That's a good point. I like this move. It's a solid move.

Starting point is 00:29:21 It didn't cost a lot of money. As a lot of people are talking about the Patriots. They spent cash wisely. They only spent $8.4 million on this deal. I think it's 10.4 is the max that it can come out with. But I really think that this is definitely a solid B signing for the Patriots, bringing in somebody who under Josh McDaniels caught close to 60 passes, 700 yards. He hasn't done that anywhere else, but he hasn't been with Josh McDaniels anywhere else

Starting point is 00:30:04 either, but he hasn't been with with Josh McDaniels anywhere else either, has he? Yeah, I mean this is a reunion of sorts for Mac Collins and Josh McDaniels. You go back to 2022, Mac actually had a pretty good game against Mike Vrabel's Titans. He caught eight catches, 158 yards and one touchdown. The minute this happened, I got a couple of text messages from a couple of friends of mine in Buffalo, and Collins was a fan favorite last year in Buffalo. He was someone that basically did anything they needed him to do. He knew his assignment, played it and played it well. And he found himself in a very similar situation to what you were describing, pushing some of the younger talent on that roster to be professionals. In doing so, he proved to Sean McDermott and that brain trust in Buffalo that he was

Starting point is 00:30:46 worthy of a roster spot. And because of that, found himself in a pretty good position to be able to make some big plays. This kid definitely had an opportunity to make things happen. And he actually was a pretty good depth piece for the Buffalo Bills all throughout the season. So I look for him to continue to be that in New England. He's a core special teamer. So I think that's where you're going to see him really shine and really come to life. Again, solid depth, these folks, not a top of the line receiver, but someone that I believe can add more touchstones than anybody on this team last year. That's a fair point. And again, someone that can add some gravitas

Starting point is 00:31:22 to this wide receiver room that desperately needs it. That's it. Murph, before we finish up today, Josh Dobbs, were you surprised by this? Obviously, everybody loves his game. This kid is definitely a solid backup quarterback, but do you think this spells the end for Jacoby Brissette and maybe even Joe Milton here in New England? Yeah, Jacoby Brissette is gone.

Starting point is 00:31:42 You know, I'm sorry. You know, pack your bags and go on. Thank you very much for for everything that you did last year Jacoby, everything that you've ever done in a Patriots uniform. You know, I'll let Mike tip his hat to you and I will give you a huge green high five. But no, that's exactly what it does. It also opens up the fact that a lot of people out there have been floating Joe Milton trades. And if Joe Milton is traded, that could wash out everything I've just said in the last 33 seconds. I don't think Joe Milton is going to be traded. I really don't. I think the guys here, even the new people like him and are, I don't want to say totally comfortable with him being a heartbeat away from the starting

Starting point is 00:32:37 job, but I don't think that they're ready to give up on that young man and that prospect yet. He could end up becoming a very decent quarterback in this league and they have him under contracted at a very reasonable rate. Now don't get me wrong, if somebody came up with an early day three draft pick for Joe Melton, Yeah, bye. See you later. I wasn't thrilled with the signing in the first place because I'd actually watched him play football in college.

Starting point is 00:33:13 But it's a good day to be Josh Dobbs. I think Dobbs is gonna come in here. He'll be the number two guy. And Milton again will be running the scout squad and doing all those types of things that third string quarterbacks do. We've book ended the day together, my friend. It's been a great day in New England Patriots Nation.

Starting point is 00:33:34 And I'm proud to have shared the microphone with you for a good part of it. Before I let you go, please let everyone know where they can reach out to you, interact with you and what you got cooking in Murph's kitchen for the rest. Yeah, you can find me over there on Zitter at tmurph207s. There's plenty of room. Absolutely. That's right. I got roster spots open. Of course, you can find me on Blue Sky at tmurph207. Leave that

Starting point is 00:33:58 last S off for savings. And I'm just, you know, I'm filtering through what's left of this free agent class, see what else could be a fit here for the Patriots, maybe a safety, you know, see if we can bolster things a little bit more before the draft, I'm doing some more draft work. I'm still deep into film, I still haven't found a left tackle that's better than Calvin Banks. Absolutely, and you know what folks, the Patriots't found a left tackle that's better than Calvin Banks.

Starting point is 00:34:29 Absolutely, and you know what folks, the Patriots may not find a tackle option that's better than Calvin Banks. I know it would make my good friend here happy, and probably would make a lot of Patriots Nation happy as well. I think there's a lot of promise with this. But the New England Patriots clearly have a need there and they need to address it. Will it be free agency? Will it be trade? Will it be draft? We'll find out in short order. And folks, for those of you that tuned in on Monday and did not and expected to see mock draft Monday, don't worry. Murph and I have got something marinating in the kitchen this week. We will get to your mock drafts and we will hold a special edition of mock draft right here on Locked on Patriots. But business is business, Murph,

Starting point is 00:35:05 and the business of the New England Patriots was free agency, and we will continue to bring you that business each and every day this week here on Locked on Patriots, so stay locked in. The best is yet to come. In the meantime, I'm Mike Debate, and on behalf of my good friend Thomas Murphy, I wish you all the opportunity to stay safe, to stay well, to be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day everyone and we'll see you back here again tomorrow on Locked on Patriots.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots Aggressive Moves Redefine Free Agency: Milton Williams, Carlton Davis and More

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.