The Patriots Were Reportedly 'Taken Aback' by the Fact No One Wanted to Play Here Last Year, and Are Going Hard After Two of the Eagles Top Players

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The last few Free Agency periods have been a confusing time for everyone in the 5 1/2 New England states who are invested in the Patriots returning to greatness (piss off, western Connecticut). After decades of knowing exactly what to expect, which was Bill Belichick shopping around the clearance rack looking for bargains (and the occasional boutique purchase of a Roosevelt Colvin or a Stephon Gilmore), every year now seems to operate off a whole new set of instructions. 

In 2021, Belichick went on a wild spree, spending like an OPEC oil sheik on Rodeo Drive. And while he had as many misses (Nelson Agholor, Jonnu Smith) as hits (Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry), he did get an Executive of the Year Award thrown in to sweeten the deals. The next couple of offseasons saw him return to form, as Mr. Kraft repeatedly expressed regret about the fact his team doing the very thing they used to mock all the loser franchises for doing. 

Then came last year. A new regime, led by a new GM and new head coach, who promised to "burn some cash." And in doing so made the classic mistake of over-promising and under-delievering. What we got was the roster-building version of lighting cigars with $1 bills. A couple of perfectly servicable skill position guys in Austin Hooper and Antonio Gibson, along with the building blocks of the worst offensive line in football. And nothing else. 

Well now we come to find out no one was more suprised than the Patriots were that no one else wanted their money:

Masslive - Although Jerod Mayo had to walk back his comments about the team having cash to burn, the Patriots did enter free agency last year wanting to spend.

According to multiple sources, the Patriots were taken aback by how many players didn’t want to come to New England – even if there was more money on the table. The Patriots goal last year was to sign receiver Calvin Ridley and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. They were also turned down later in the summer by receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Top free-agent tackle Tyron Smith also didn’t want to come to New England.

Which makes all the sense in the world. A rookie head coach, presumably with a 21-year-old Drake Maye coming with the No. 3 pick in late April and a coordinator in Alex Van Pelt who hadn't actually coordinated since that one year in 2009 didn't exactly scream "Great Career Opportunity" on everybody's Zip Recruiter. But all that has changed:

This offseason, sources believe the Patriots will have more luck in free agency and expect the team to be “aggressive.” The reason for optimism boils down to Maye and Vrabel.

Last year, the Patriots had a rookie head coach and no quarterback on the roster. Now, Maye looks like a future franchise quarterback and Vrabel is a well-respected coach. The hope is that those factors (along with the team having the most cap space) will turn the tide in the Patriots favor.

And to that end, with five days to go before that weirdly unofficial start of official Free Agency that begins on Monday, the Pats are already reportedly going hard in the paint after two Super Bowl champions. One, a Top 10 free agent who can be had for a ton of money, and the other who'll have to come via trade:

Simply put, this is the no-brainiest of no-brainers. So much so I'd expect Vrabel to be on the phone with Milton Williams the moment he can do so without losing a draft pick. In the same way Belichick called Vrabel in 2001 the very minute Free Agency opened. 

Williams is a former 3rd round pick who has improved every single season of his career. A smaller, penetrating defensive tackle in the mold of (not comparing them; just talking about their playing style) of Aaron Donald. What the Pats hoped Dominique Easley would be, Williams has become. Last season he was 15th in overall Pro Football Focus defensive grade among DTs, No. 1 at his position in pass rush grade, and finished in the top 10 among interior rushers in sacks, hurries and total pressures. Pete Prisco of CBS has him listed as his 6th best free agent. And tomorrow is his 26th birthday. Plug this guy into the middle of the line alongside (a hopefully fully healthy) Christian Barmore and Keion White, and you'll create matchup nightmares among all guards and centers in the league, where last year there was no pass rush at all to speak of. 

Which brings us to the trade rumor:

Eagles Twitter/X has understandably gone all Crazy Ivan at the very idea of Howie Roseman entertaining this idea:

And you can see their point. Sure, Brown and Jalen Hurts have had their issues. But the fact they went 18-0 in the games they started together and the little matter of winning the Super Bowl ought to have been enough to heal all wounds. But then again, there's the fact Brown has never shied away from admitting he's a Patriots fan:

SI - Before his desire for a new contract forced a trade from the Tennessee Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles, receiver A.J. Brown was distraught that he didn't land with another franchise in the 2019 NFL Draft. …

[A] clip recently surfaced from a June 2020 interview that Brown did on 'Bussin' With The Boys' where he explained how upset he was when the Patriots took N'Keal Harry over him with the No. 32 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

"I just knew I was going to the Patriots, because I was a big Patriots fan," Brown said. 

"I got a phone call and I was like 'This is it.' But it wasn't it, it was my agent. And he was like 'Just sit tight.' And I'm like 'OK.' He was like 'They finna take a receiver.' …

"So they end up picking, it said the pick was in. I know I ain't got a phone call by now. So I'm like 'This s*** is over.' So I told my brother, I told D, I said 'Bro, let's go.' And I left everybody at the house and went home. I went in the closet and cried my eyes out. I swear." 

That quote has been an icicle jammed straight into the heart of every Patriots fan as the team has spent five full years trying to unfuck themselves from the disaster that was Harry, while watching Brown get named to three Pro Bowls. Only to now give us hope that he still feels that emptiness in his heart. A hole that only pulling on the Pats uniform can fill. 

Which brings us back to what makes New England a destination once again. The chance to become Maye's unquestioned WR1. But also to be reunited with the coach who drafted him. And who was so shook when Brown was traded away from Tennessee that he didn't even try to hide his pain:

Unlike signing Milton Williams, Brown would be a long shot. No question about it. New England has nothing of value to send back to Philly other than draft capital, and they need help in every area of the field save for quarterback. The Eagles  aren't hurting for money ($21 million in cap space available), so there's no pressing need for a salary dump. Brown would have to decide that winning one ring in Philly is enough, that career box is checked, now it's time to fulfill the dream of playing in Foxboro, and convince Roseman to make it come true. That's a tall order. 

We'd just have to hope all these unlikely breaks happen and the buy-in of this particular high stakes game isn't prohibitive for a franchise in desperate need of some highly productive drafts. But then again, no one could've imagined Randy Moss coming here in 2007 either. Stranger things have happened. For now all we can do is respect that Vrabel was telling the truth when he promised to be aggressive. We're in for a wild couple of months.