The New England Patriots have so much to be enthusiastic about. The workforce simply signed Mike Vrabel because the sixteenth head coach of the franchise.
Learn extra: Patriots Rent Mike Vrabel as Head Coach With Multi-12 months Settlement: Report
Vrabel returns to the Patriots after spending the 2001 to 2008 seasons with the workforce as a linebacker. He would safe three Tremendous Bowl victories throughout New England’s dominant run underneath Invoice Belichick.
Now, Vrabel is again to steer the workforce. The excellent news is he’s additionally coming into an excellent state of affairs for a rebuild.
The Patriots lead the NFL in projected cap house in 2025, coming in at round $120 million. Additionally they personal the No. 4 total choose within the 2025 NFL Draft, together with having a younger upstart quarterback in Drake Maye.
That mentioned, the Patriots have a obtrusive gap at extensive receiver, and there may be one star they may goal that will instantly enhance the place.
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Extra information: Patriots’ Robert Kraft Admits to Feeling ‘Responsible’ For Making Jerod Mayo Head Coach
After finding out the NFL CBA and the marketplace for receivers, Newsweek Sports activities predicts the Patriots will land present Cincinnati Bengals extensive receiver Tee Higgins with a four-year, $108 million deal.
Higgins used his “contract yr” to spice up his worth fully, securing 911 yards and 10 touchdowns by means of 12 video games. Regardless of being held again by a couple of accidents in 2024, he showcased elite expertise.
Higgins made $21.8 million on a franchise tag in 2024 and has the comparable stats to be paid as a top-10 receiver within the NFL.
A four-year, $108 million deal would place Higgins at $27 million AAV. This determine would place him among the many identical contracts as Chicago Bears’ D.J. Moore and New York Jets’ Davante Adams. Each Moore and Adams are within the prime 10 of highest-paid receivers.
Higgins has longed for a long-term deal and almost held out of the 2024 season to get one. The Bengals selected to franchise tag the receiver, as an alternative of giving him a contract extension, which might spurn him to hunt a deal elsewhere.
The opposite problem is the Bengals having some massive commitments to take care of at the moment within the huge contract for quarterback Joe Burrow, and the pending mega contract extension for Ja’Marr Chase.
The Bengals do have a reported $44 million in cap house heading into 2025, which may benefit the workforce by permitting a brand new extension for Higgins. Nonetheless, the pending larger contracts may take priority.
Higgins could be an unimaginable addition to an ailing Patriots workforce that has lacked a strong go catcher. Tight finish Hunter Henry tops the receiving yards listing in 2024 for the workforce, coming in at 674 whole yards. Proper behind him is DeMario Douglas at 621.
The Patriots want a strong WR1, and Higgins might present that for New England. The workforce additionally picks at No. 4 and will add a strong go catcher in Travis Hunter (if he falls that far), together with probably focusing on Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona.
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For extra on the Patriots, head to Newsweek Sports activities.