The New England Patriots have done it. After going 11-5 (five losses for the first time in 2009) the Pats have once again proved everyone wrong. They were doubted time and time again, yet the Patriots ended the 2018 season as Super Bowl champions. The Patriots defeated the Rams 13-3 on the grandest stage of them all.
Although neither team played their best football, an early fourth quarter drive by the Patriots solidified the win. The drive included key completions to WR Julian Edelman (for 13 yards) and TE Rob Gronkowski (for 29 yards). It was capped off by rookie RB Sony Michel scoring his sixth postseason touchdown. To clinch the game, All-Pro CB Stephon Gilmore picked off Rams QB Jared Goff at the New England 4-yard line.
The Patriots won their sixth Super Bowl, all since 2001, and continued their unbelievable dynasty. In terms of QB Tom Brady, if it wasn’t clear already, he’s the greatest football player of all-time. Six Super Bowl rings in nine appearances, and as Uncle Mike would put it: “It never gets old.”
Julian Edelman’s 10-reception, 141-yard performance was enough to earn him Super Bowl MVP. The Brady-Belichick era of dominance seems far from over.. or is it? Although the Patriots just took home another Super Bowl win, sometimes it’s never too early to start looking ahead. As the 2018 season has come to a close, what’s next for the defending Super Bowl Champions?
Retirements
The Patriots have as many veterans as any other team, and that contributes to their success. When we talk about New England, the name that comes to mind immediately is Rob Gronkowski. At 29 years old, some may ask why Gronk would even consider retirement after winning his third Super Bowl. However, health may have a huge effect on the continuation of his career. Gronk, as we all know, is a beast and comes through in the most clutch situations. As the seasons have gone on, Gronk has been getting hit more and more. Injuries have always been associated with his name, and it’s definitely limited him throughout some of the recent seasons.
Knowing Gronk and the Patriots, they’ll go out and enjoy their championship win a little more before they worry about their players. As most players do when they consider retirement, Gronk will probably have to consult with his family to discuss what’s best for him. This could take weeks or even until the next preseason. Nevertheless, the retirement of one of the greatest TEs in league history is something to keep our eye on.
Another player to keep your eye on is S Devin McCourty. McCourty hadn’t ruled out retirement if he were to win Super Bowl LIII, and now he has. With his brother Jason on the team, he explained how nothing can top winning a championship with his brother by his side. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler and has 553 career tackles in his nine seasons.
This season, he had 59 tackles, one interception, and a defensive touchdown. It sounds like McCourty has achieved everything he truly wants to in the NFL, and his brother Jason may follow his footsteps into retirement. Devin has one year remaining on his contract while Jason will be a free agent. May we see the first ever twins to play in the Super Bowl retire soon after? Only time will tell.
Drafting Brady’s Successor
It may be too early to contemplate but never say never. Brady (41) has already stated that his goal is to play until 45. I wouldn’t count out an earlier retirement. Brady has accomplished everything he could in the NFL, but he wants to keep playing. Going out on top would be the perfect ending to his legendary career. But, at 41, Brady could be out of the game sooner than we think.
On that note, if Brady is even thinking about retirement in the coming seasons, the Patriots must think about drafting their next QB. This year’s draft provides a team with a healthy and stable crop of QBs that can certainly lead a franchise in the future.
If I’m New England, I’m taking a look at each QB and seeing if I can perhaps trade up in order to snag one. Premier QBs include Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray. More realistic options include West Virginia’s Will Grier, Missouri’s Drew Lock, and Duke’s Daniel Jones. The Patriots will likely wait to draft another quarterback, but you never know. You may want to draft now and develop the player over time to become the true next great QB. Of course, nobody can match Brady.
Filling In The Gaps
If there’s anything Bill Belichick has proven to us, it’s that he can take a broom and make them a Super Bowl champion. With what’s referred to as one of the worst squads in team history, Belichick created a contender. He manages the salary cap with ease and never gives somebody too much money. Yes, this has worked out for the Patriots, as they won a championship.
First will obviously be TE. With Gronkowski, as clutch as he is, football has taken a very physical toll on his body. I alluded to before how New England may want to draft their next QB, but they may want to address the TE spot first. Many mock drafts have Iowa TE Noah Fant going in the first round to New England. If this is the case, why shouldn’t the Pats pull the trigger? Considering Belichick’s knack for player development if Gronk leaves the Pats will have a young player to take his place.
Another position to address is WR. The Patriots have one of the most elusive receiver groups in the league. Short gain, short gain, short gain, then long gain has been the key for this group all season long. On that note, the Patriots have four of their receivers due to be free agents. These players include Chris Hogan, Cordarelle Patterson, and Phillip Dorsett. It’s clear that the first priority must be to re-sign these players. After that, one thing that’s missing from this squad of efficient receivers is a deep threat.
WR Josh Gordon left the team earlier in the season to work on his personal problems. On that note, who can the Patriots rely on to be a Josh Gordon, or a Brandin Cooks, or a Randy Moss? They don’t need to be an All-Pro, but they need to be able to scare some teams. This weapon could be obtained through free agency.
The 2019 free agency cast includes many “good” WRs, but one that should catch the eye of the Pats is Ravens WR John Brown. If Brown isn’t greedy for the money, why not come play for Patriots with Tom Brady as your quarterback? He may want to continue to build something in Baltimore, but it’s not a lock that QB Lamar Jackson will develop into the passer they want him to be.
Re-signing Key Players
Before any new pieces come to New England, one thing that must be addressed is the pending free agents. On the OL, Trent Brown is a pending free agent. Tom Brady has only been sacked once in the playoffs this season, and that’s massively due to this dominate offensive line. Brown is a very important piece on the line, and losing him would be a huge loss. The Patriots are usually not keen on giving players a whole lot of money, so that effect where these players take their talents.
After that comes the WRs who are going to be even harder to re-sign. As I alluded to before, Chris Hogan, Cordarelle Patterson, and Phillip Dorsett are all due to be free agents. One of them is going to want their money. The Patriots will have to manage who they want to keep, who they want to release, and who they want to bring in. Never forget, the Patriots can turn any superstar into an effective weapon.
Can the Dynasty Continue?
The Patriots now have six Super Bowl titles and are only getting better in terms of their legacy. Unfortunately, the Patriots are losing a key coach in Brian Flores (hired as HC for the Miami Dolphins). Nevertheless, Tom Brady is 41, and Bill Belichick is 66. They’re probably the greatest duo in sports. If one thing is clear, it’s that they’re getting old. The question always is “how long can they keep this up?” Neither of them is thinking about retiring anytime soon, so another Super Bowl title may be in their midst.
Like every season, new players come and veterans go. No matter who it is, the coaching staff of the Patriots always manages to perfectly fit every piece of the puzzle into their team which results in wins. As all of the factors I mentioned will play big roles in New England’s future, expect the Patriots to once again be contenders. It’s going to be an offseason of emotion for New England’s players, coaches, and fans. We’re all in for the ride.