The New England Patriots have picked their spots at signing free brokers this offseason. They spent most of their time re-signing their very own gamers as they reportedly did Thursday by inking a key piece of the offense to a contract extension.
ESPN NFL analyst Aaron Schatz believes there’s one potential transfer on the desk for the Patriots earlier than coaching camp opens subsequent month. However the New England must go outdoors the group to acquire the participant.
Excellent news for the Patriots is Schatz picked a participant that has familiarity with New England. Schatz, who famous that this wouldn’t be a scintillating transfer regardless of New England having ample cap house, believes the Patriots ought to shore up their secondary by signing previous good friend Justin Bethel.
“Let’s counsel a depth cornerback who may also assistance on particular groups and convey again Bethel, a former Patriot who spent the previous two seasons in Miami,” Schatz wrote. “Proper now, the fourth cornerback is former Raven Shaun Wade and the fifth is sixth-round rookie Marcellas Dial, so New England may use some assist there.”
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Bethel spent two-plus seasons with the Patriots, however almost all of his enjoying time got here on particular groups. He performed simply 4 % of the crew’s defensive snaps in his ultimate season with the Patriots in 2021, which was his excessive with New England.
Bethel did see a while at nook in Miami’s protection the final two seasons and even recorded an interception in 2022. However like with the Patriots, the 34-year-old was primarily used as a particular teamer.
That may probably be his position once more if he returns to the Patriots whereas including depth to the cornerback group. That’s definitely not a foul factor, particularly after the Patriots have been hit laborious by accidents and within the secondary final season. Marcus Jones and Christian Gonzalez have been each misplaced to season-ending accidents early within the season and a possible contributor in Isaiah Bolden had his season come to an finish earlier than it even began. There have been additionally off-the-field points for J.C. Jackson and Jack Jones, who was lower throughout the center of the season.
Signing Bethel definitely can be removed from an eye-popping transfer, however it might go together with the underwhelming offseason the Patriots had with free company.
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