NFL Free Agency 2023: Patriots predicted to lure away Patrick Mahomes’ key teammate
The NFL free agency period begins on March 15, when players will be able to sign new contracts. The legal tampering period begins two days before, on March 13, and interest is already picking up.
The New England Patriots enter free agency with $33 million in cap space as of right now, which is the seventh-most in the league.
In Pro Football Focus' most recent free agent predictions, they think the Patriots will steal offensive tackle Orlando Brown from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brown is the Chiefs' top free agent and was set to hit free agency last off-season. As he and the team were unable to come to terms on a deal, they used the franchise tag on him, keeping him for another season while paying him $16.7 million.
The Chiefs want to sign Brown to a contract extension but are expected to use the franchise tag on him again this off-season.
The "expectation leaguewide" is that the #Chiefs will franchise-tag Left Tackle Orlando Brown for a second consecutive year, according to ESPN.
Brown made $16.7 million this season under the franchise tag. https://t.co/AfPjsMeWrB
They acquired Brown from the Baltimore Ravens in 2021 in exchange for a first-round pick (31st overall) in the 2021 NFL draft, a third-round pick (94th overall), a fourth-round pick (136th overall) and a 2022 fifth-round selection. They also got a second-round pick (58th overall) in the 2021 NFL draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
Brown has made the Pro Bowl in the last four seasons, including two with the Chiefs. PFF predicts the Pats will replace pending free agent Isaiah Wynn with him.
The top free agents for the New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have a lot of cap space heading into this off-season and will probably have more as they make cuts, restructured deals, and potential trades.
They will have many key free agents, including running back Damien Harris, wide receivers Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor, tackle Isiah Wynn, and cornerback Jonathan Jones.
The team will have a lot of business decisions to make and it will be interesting to see who joins them and who leaves.