New England Patriots - NESN.com
The Patriots will have the most cap space to utilize this offseason, so it’s only natural to link New England to a superstar-level player.
However, that doesn’t seem likely to happen as the Bengals reportedly plan on using the non-exclusive franchise tag on Tee Higgins. It’s a wise decision from Cincinnati but was a big blow for what could have been a dream offseason.
However, the Patriots do have options to pivot to. According to The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, the Chiefs are not expected to place the franchise tag or the transition tag on Trey Smith. Kansas City will still try to bring back the Pro Bowl offensive lineman but money could be a deciding factor. If it is, New England should swoop in and make Smith an offer he can’t refuse.
Would signing Higgins be better? Obviously, yes. But the Patriots need to take the options available to them. Smith isn’t a well-known name, but he was part of the one of best interior offensive line units in the NFL. The 25-year-old didn’t allow a sack last season and earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 70 or higher across his four-year career.
As much as New England needs to provide Drake Maye with more pass-catching options, it also needs to keep him upright for a full season. Head coach Mike Vrabel’s staff decisions hinted that he’s committed to building in the trenches. It’s one of the most important lessons the Patriots could learn from the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Making Smith one of the highest-paid guards in the league might not grab as many headlines as Higgins, but it is a move that could go a long way to get the Patriots back on track.
