Five Patriots facing a make-or-break season in 2015
The New England Patriots are known for managing their contracts in remarkable fashion, similar to the way the Green Bay Packers handle their players. Rarely are the Patriots strapped financially to poor contracts, but every now and then, a player doesn’t play to the level of his contract.
Like most teams, the Patriots have a few players that fall under that category and could be left off of the roster in 2016. These players are facing make-or-break seasons with the Patriots:
Jerod Mayo, linebacker
Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo is in a similar situation that Vince Wilfork was in last season. Obviously, Wilfork is no longer with the team, which gives a glimpse at how likely it is Mayo will be with the Patriots next season.
Add in the fact that he’s played in just six games each of the last two seasons and his roster spot is far from guaranteed. That’s not to say Mayo isn’t a great player when healthy, because he is. He was the second-highest rated OLB in 2012, according to ProFootballFocus, which shows his value to the team’s defense.
What hurts Mayo’s chances of remaining with the Patriots in 2016 is his contract situation. He has the second-highest cap number next season at $11.4 million, second to just Tom Brady. If the Patriots were to cut him before the season, he would only cost them $4.4 million in dead money. Saving $7 million could be important for the Patriots, who will need to lock up guys like Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins.
Aaron Dobson, wide receiver
Needing top-flight wide receivers has never been a priority for the Patriots with Brady at quarterback, which actually bodes well for mid-level pass catchers. However, keeping more than five receivers isn’t always possible. With Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Brandon LaFell, and Matthew Slater all on the roster, Aaron Dobson could find himself without a roster spot in 2016.
In his rookie season in 2013, Dobson started nine games, catching four touchdowns and piling up 519 receiving yards. In 2014, those numbers fell off a cliff. He started just one game, catching three passes for 38 yards. The lack of production is mainly due to a hamstring injury and foot injury, the former of which landed him on injured reserve in December.
Still, Dobson hasn’t exactly starred in the NFL since being taken in the second round in 2013. He’s fighting for the fourth receiver spot in training camp, a spot that may not see many balls thrown his way with Rob Gronkowski and Scott Chandler also on the field at tight end.
His cap number in 2016 is just shy of $1.1 million, but will only cost the Patriots $218,340 in dead money if he’s released before the season begins. Because of that, he’s facing a make-or-break season in 2015.
Alan Branch, defensive tackle
The Patriots will be missing their defensive centerpiece this season after Vince Wilfork signed with the Houston Texans. In his place, a big-bodied nose tackle, Alan Branch, will likely be asked to fill Wilfork’s massive shoes. An eight-year veteran entering his ninth season in the NFL, Branch is a big-time presence in the middle of the field at 6-foot-6, 350 pounds. He’s a run stuffer that should have an impact in 2015, so long as he can hold off promising young players Dominique Easley and Malcom Brown.
If not, Branch may not be on the Patriots’ 2016 roster. He’s not necessarily an expensive player by any means, but his production lacked in 2014. He’ll need to produce to live up to his $2.75 million cap hit, otherwise the Patriots may not hesitate to cut the big nose tackle in 2016.
Logan Ryan, cornerback
To be blunt, the Patriots’ cornerback position is a mess. That’s not to say the corners on the roster can’t be productive, they just haven’t exactly proven that in the past. Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan are expected to be the starters as of now, but with a handful of corners on the depth chart behind them, that can change.
Filling the shoes of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner is no easy task, but that’s just what Butler and Ryan — along with others — will be asked to do. Butler made a name for himself in the Super Bowl with the game-clinching interception, but is still inexperienced. The latter can also be said about Ryan, who’s entering his third season in the NFL.
While Ryan has the talent to be an NFL-caliber starter, he’s yet to prove it. In 2015, he’ll get that chance, with the hope of remaining with the team in 2016. With a great amount of pressure on Ryan to perform this season, it’s not terribly difficult to envision him falling short of expectations. A Patriots-friendly contract could make Ryan a cap casualty in 2016, if his performance doesn’t rise to the occasion.
Bradley Fletcher, cornerback
As mentioned above, the Patriots have several question marks at cornerback. Who the top performer will be still remains to be seen, and who will be on the roster past this season is a question as well. New England brought in Bradley Fletcher this offseason to shore up the position, but his performance isn’t top-notch by any means.
Because he’s on a one-year deal in 2015, he’s facing the ultimate make-or-break season. If he plays well and steps into a big role for the Patriots, he could find himself as a target for a long-term deal. If not, though, he will hit the open market next offseason where he may not command a large amount of money from other teams. His best bet is to shine for the Patriots in 2015 and earn his way onto the roster in 2016, but he’ll have to fight his way to a bigger role in training camp, first.
*All salary cap information comes from Overthecap.com
