ESPN’s ‘Daring’ Offseason Move For Patriots Includes Releasing Veteran

This offseason will bring the most important decisions for the New England Patriots. The team will be forced to make a few major changes to the roster. Head coach Bill Belichick needs to add depth to the receiving unit. His offense struggled a lot in 2019, and he can’t make the same mistake again. According to ESPN, the Patriots should cut ties with one of their veterans.

The Worldwide Leader tasked all 32 of its NFL reporters to suggest a “daring offseason move” for the teams they report about. Mike Reiss covers the Patriots, and he believes that the team needs to cut Devin McCourty. Cutting ties with the three-time Super Bowl champion is “a must” as it may help the team “to execute an infusion of youth at the safety position.”

“Denver Broncos safety (Justin) Simmons, an unrestricted free agent this offseason, is an ascending star and would be close to a household name if the Broncos had been any good recently,” Reiss wrote. “Not only can Simmons fill in for McCourty as a deep-middle safety for the Patriots, he can move all around the back end to provide Bill Belichick with yet another chess piece. Simmons snagged four interceptions last season in addition to 15 passes defended.

“Adding Simmons’ star power and versatility to a stacked cornerback group that thrives in press-man coverage could be the key to New England’s defense maintaining its 2019 form. While Simmons will surely come with a hefty price tag, the Patriots should have no reservations about throwing money around, assuming quarterback Tom Brady comes back for one or two more seasons.”

An important offseason for the Patriots

The McCourty twin will turn 33 a month before the start of the season. In other words, this may be his last chance to stack more money. McCourty has been part of the Patriots for quite some time. However, Belichick has his own calculations when it comes to cutting or signing players. There’s no such thing as lifetime achievement awards in his notebook. He is pretty serious about the team, and he won’t keep someone just because the player spent many years on the roster. Belichick would rather cut ties with a player a year before the expected date.

Signing Simmons would be quite a challenge for the New England Patriots, and they may try to use an early-round pick on a safety.

What will happen if Belichick decides he doesn’t need Brady anymore? He hasn’t found an alternative yet. Some suggest that the head coach will go after a young quarterback this offseason. He hasn’t met with Brady yet.