After making what was probably the most intelligent decision of his tenure as the New England Patriots’ head coach, Bill Belichick announced that he has will not select Julio Jones in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. With the second overall pick, Belichick would have been on the cusp of a huge steal.
In the NFL, it’s easy to make a splash move that becomes a heralded decision for the future. The New England Patriots made their splash back in 2016 when they allowed star receiver Brandin Cooks to walk in free agency to join the Los Angeles Rams. With that move, the Patriots created an opening for rookie receiver/kick returner/return specialist Julian Edelman to challenge for the team’s punt returner role and eventually overtake incumbent punt returner Matthew Slater.
After spending the first five years of the post-Pats era figuring out how to get by without Brady, Belichick is finally coming to terms with the fact that his team needs to mature in order to win. Since he’s proven that he can’t get it done with the likes of McCourty, Gilmore, Patterson, and Allen, it’s time for Belichick to make a long-overdue investment in the draft and/or free agency.. Read more about bill belichick age and let us know what you think.
Bill Belichick has been aggressive early in the season. With expensive free agent acquisitions, the New England Patriots have met most of their needs and solidified their position as Super Bowl contenders. But when it comes to Julio Jones, Belichick has refused to pay for one of the best receivers in NFL history. While some may question the decision, the Patriots certainly made the right move by not accepting the Atlanta Falcons’ asking price for the aging wideout. But now that Belichick doesn’t have to worry about the likely sale of Jones, he should turn his attention to an investment on the other side of the ball that is long overdue.Patriots were wise to reject Julio Jones’ takeover bid
I believe the Patriots showed early interest in Julio Jones, but the price should have changed due to trade compensation or spending by the Falcons. It didn’t work, so they moved on. – Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) June 6, 2021 The Patriots have desperately needed help at receiver for years. Unfortunately, Belichick’s attempts to get a rookie wideout out have mostly failed. With N’Keel Harry, a 2019 first-round pick, not living up to expectations in his first two seasons in Foxborough, Belichick opted to bring in a free agent to address a major weakness of the team at the position. The Patriots signed Nelson Agolor to a two-year, $22 million contract. They also signed Kendrick Bourne to a two-year, $15 million contract. While neither deal can be considered a significant long-term investment, Belichick has done his best to bolster the team’s central attack with two solid professionals. Moreover, he has secured the support of major players whose potential may not yet have been discovered. With their ages of 28 and 25 respectively, Agolor and Bourne could become more effective weapons in New England’s timing-based offense. But trading Jones – who the Tennessee Titans acquired Monday for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick – wouldn’t be such a smart move for New England. Sure, he’ll be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday. But given his age (32), injury history (he played just nine games last season) and contract ($38 million for the final three years of his contract), Jones carries a lot of risk. In the end, Belichick made the right decision; he retained valuable design capital and retained the financial flexibility to address other issues.
Bill Belichick should focus on long overdue investments
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick hugs quarterback Stephon Gilmore after winning Super Bowl 53. | Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Will the Patriots regret not selling Jones? Depending on how Agholor and Bourn develop, the six-time Super Bowl champion could revisit his decision not to make the deal. But now that Jones is in Tennessee, it’s time for Belichick to deal with the Patriots’ leading defender: Stephon Gilmore. The 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year suffered a quadriceps muscle injury in Week 15 of the season. But the four-time Pro Bowler should be ready for the upcoming season. Still, Gilmore’s short- and long-term future remains in doubt. With only $7.3 million on hand, the talented cornerback clearly deserves a higher salary. But because he turns 31 in September, the potential free agent doesn’t exactly fit the profile of a player who will get more money from Belichick. In this case, however, an exception must be made. If the New England medical staff gives Gilmore a positive review, the Patriots should sign him to an extension. This not only provides a more equitable salary for the star linebacker, but also allows Belichick to have at least one more top cornerback on the roster for a few more years. Additionally, Gilmore’s award will send a positive message in the locker room that the Patriots should be taken seriously as contenders for the Super Bowl.
New England’s defense has elite potential with a healthy and motivated Stephon Gilmore
The 30+ player to keep an eye on, #Patriots , who is making significant new acquisitions is CB Stephon Gilmore. Those who advocate it becoming a commercial bait are crazy, it’s a bad idea. Summer, good health, a new contract, securing a top player position that is infinitely more important than cannonballs. – Matt Chatham (@chatham58) June 6, 2021 A two-year contract that pays Gilmore about $15 million a year seems reasonable for a player of his caliber. When healthy, he can cover one side of the field completely. And even though he’s past 30, his technique and size should allow him to play at a high level for at least a few more years. If Belichick wants to provide one of the most important positions on the field, he will have to invest significant financial resources to keep Gilmore with the team. In addition to being a top defensive player for several more seasons, signing an extended contract will also mean a pay cut for the Patriots. Gilmore’s new contract would reduce his current cap hit for 2021 to $16.2 million and give Belichick more room to take other actions. More importantly, Gilmore’s contract extension after the 2021 season will make the Patriots defense really dangerous going forward. With established veterans like Dont’a Hightower, Matthew Judon, Devin McCourty, Kyle Van Noy and Lawrence Guy, rising stars like JC Jackson and Kyle Dugger, and talented prospects like Christian Barmore and Ronnie Perkins, Belichick boasts an intriguing collection of talent. If New England’s defense plays fully (with Gilmore, of course), the Lombardi Trophy could fall into the hands of Robert Kraft sooner rather than later. All contract details are provided by Spotrac. COMPARED TO: Mac Jones has already earned the respect of Bill Belichick by being inspired by Tom Brady’splaybook.Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots are likely enjoying the NFL offseason in peace right now. After making the controversial decision, they could have come under fire from the media, fans, or even the NFL itself. But, no one seems to be criticizing the Patriots over the decision to pass on Julio Jones.. Read more about bill belichick record and let us know what you think.
Related Tags:
bill belichick agebill belichick contractnew england patriots coachbill belichick record,People also search for,Privacy settings,How Search works,bill belichick age,bill belichick contract,new england patriots coach,bill belichick record
