The New England Patriots entered free agency with the most cap space of any team across the league, and went to work shopping at the top of the market to fill some of the many holes across the roster.
Signing both premier defensive tackle Milton Williams and shutdown cornerback Carlton Davis are big additions at two key positions on defense, while the Patriots also fortified the offensive line by signing offensive tackle Morgan Moses to help keep quarterback Drake Maye upright.
However’ some of the Patriots’ signings could prove to be high-priced gambles, as New England looks to make the long climb out of the AFC East cellar.
Did the New England Patriots Overpay Harold Landry?
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The Patriots are betting that Harold Landry finally lives up to his first-round billing, but not everyone is convinced it’s a winning gamble.
Tyler Brooke of The 33rd Team put together a list of the most overpaid free agent signings this cycle, including the Patriots’ $43.5 million pact with Landry over the next three years.
“Landry was a premier pass rusher when Mike Vrabel was head coach of the Tennessee Titans,” Brooke writes for The 33rd Team. “Posting career numbers in 2021 with 12 sacks and 70 pressures. However, a torn ACL forced him to miss the entire 2022 season, and his pressure numbers have been rapidly declining since, even though he’s hovered around double-digit sacks in recent seasons.
“The good news is that Landry is still just 28 years old, but the fact he only generated pressure on 7.1 percent of his pass-rush snaps in 2024 should be a huge red flag. That’s a lot of money to pay for a player trending in the wrong direction, but it’s clear that Vrabel still believes in the player that Landry can be when he’s operating at peak efficiency.”
If Vrabel can once again bring out the best in Landry, and he becomes an impact player on a defense in desperate need of it, this signing could wind up being a move that turns the tide for the Patriots.
But, that is marquee money for a player who has seen his production dip in recent years.
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