Opt-outs return: 5
Coming off a 7-9 season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008, the Patriots needed an upgrade. Their financial flexibility (and aggressiveness) helped them do it. One team official opined that the result should allow the franchise to get back to a foundational principle of competition at all spots, which wasn t the case last season.
Here is a position-by-position snapshot of the roster:
Belichick made it clear, before he was even asked, that Newton is the starting quarterback. That doesn t mean Jones, the 15th overall pick, can t make a legitimate run for the job. It just seemed to be Belichick s way of taking some pressure off him. It shouldn t take long in training camp from the standpoint of the football coming out on time and in rhythm to see if Jones has a realistic chance to be a Day 1 starter.
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Jeff Haynes/Associated Press
With two first-round picks in 2023 and a pair of third-round selections in next year s NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins may not be done loading up for what could be a long stretch as a Super Bowl contender.
Still, with a ridiculous nine first- or second-round picks from the 2020 and 2021 drafts now populating their roster, the heart of the Dolphins rebuild is complete.
Now, it s time to compete.
The Dolphins have a top-five pick at quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa), three 20-something-year-old, first-round selections at wide receiver (DeVante Parker, Will Fuller V and Jaylen Waddle), and two young first-round picks up front on defense (Jaelan Phillips and Christian Wilkins).
Center David Andrews excited about possibilities of Pats’ new-look roster
Andrews thought his time in New England was coming to an end, but he s glad to stick around and play with all the new additions.
By Kyle HightowerAssociated Press
Elise Amendola/Associated Press
BOSTON When free agency opened last month, there was a moment it seemed center David Andrews would be adding his name to the key Patriots offensive linemen joining new teams in 2021.
The frenzied offseason opened with left guard Joe Thuney signing a five-year $80 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, followed by right tackle Marcus Cannon being traded to Houston.