Here’s How Patriots Can Use Cap Space With Julio Jones Trade Off The Table

The New England Patriots had enough cap space to get Julio Jones in the offseason. However, head coach Bill Belichick spent a lot of money in free agency. He also brought some talented players through the 2021 NFL Draft.

Guess what… Belichick still has over $15 million available. In other words, he can get a few more talented players in the upcoming months.

New England has the 11^th most available cap space in the league as confirmed by OverTheCap.com. Yes, Belichick has the money even after spending $160 million in guaranteed money.

The Patriots wouldn’t waste their cap space on Julio Jones

New England could have signed Jones but he is no longer available. The elite wide receiver left the Atlanta Falcons but he has just signed a deal with the Tennessee Titans. Atlanta traded him to the Falcons and got a second-round pick. So, Jones is off the table.

In order to get the wideout and carry cap space into the season, the Patriots would have had to make a cap-clearing move and then push part of the receiver’s 2021 salary into the future. This would put them in potential salary cap hell in 2022.

A contract for Jones is worth the trouble. However it would have set off a domino effect causing the team to fret over available spending space and approve cost-cutting decisions in the next few years. The Patriots could have become the New Orleans Saints.

Belichick decided it wasn’t worth it after signing Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, outside linebacker Matt Judon and many others in the offseason.

How will Belichick handle those $15 million? He will probably hold onto it and carry it into the regular season and next free agency. New England can pull out a deal before the midseason trade deadline. They may also add lingering free agents or offer contract extensions to veterans on their roster. Yes, Stephon Gilmore’s future with the Patriots is still hanging in the air.