The New England Patriots have been active in free agency so far, and if they haven’t quite improved their roster from last season, they’re at least close.

The biggest departure that hasn’t been replaced so far is Devin McCourty. New England has made moves to replace other players who won’t be on the 2023 squad.

Let’s recap and grade the moves New England has made this week.

Signings

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: B+

It’s difficult to discuss this move in a vacuum since it ties into New England’s decision to allow wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to walk in free agency to the Las Vegas Raiders for three years and $33 million.

Smith-Schuster comes with some more injury risk, but he’s a higher-upside player and only signed for three years, $25.5 million with incentives that reach $33 million. So, he’s either a cheaper player than Meyers, or he’ll hit the incentives needed to reach that $33 million figure.

Overall, Smith-Schuster is the 33rd-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. That's a good deal for what he's expected to contribute.

TE Mike Gesicki: B-

All we know at this point is that Gesicki signed a one-year deal worth up to $9 million. Until we get the full figures, then it’s tough to fully judge this signing. He didn’t fill a positional need as a pass-catching tight end since Hunter Henry already supplies that for New England, but Gesicki is unique in his ability, so he’ll certainly fill a role especially on third down and in the red zone. If this is incentive-heavy, then it looks like a smart signing. If the total guarantees are closer to $9 million, then this grade would maybe come down a bit.

OT Riley Reiff: C

Reiff didn’t sign with the Chicago Bears until July 26 last year. So it was a bit of a surprise that he was a priority to add in the first week of free agency for one year, $5 million with $4.15 million guaranteed and another $4 million in playing-time incentives. Reiff looks like a starter based on his contract. And he’s 34 years old and didn’t start the entire season for the Bears last season.

OT Calvin Anderson: B-

We don’t have the terms yet on Anderson’s deal, but New England now seemingly has Reiff and Trent Brown as its starting tackles. If Anderson is being paid like a swing tackle, this is just fine.

RB James Robinson: C

Robinson was great as a rookie in 2020. Then he tore his Achilles late in the 2021 season, was traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the New York Jets in 2022 and barely played for his new squad. It’s a two-year deal worth up to $8 million, which is steep if those two years don’t have at least $1 million in incentives each season. Robinson can be a great compliment to Rhamondre Stevenson if he can regain his 2020 form. That is a question mark, however.

Re-signings

OL James Ferentz: C

Ferentz signed a $1.165 million that includes $200,000 guaranteed. Ferentz is the type of player you can release at roster cuts to get players onto injured reserve, so it’s possibly a waste of $200k.

DT Carl Davis: B

The Patriots were good on defense last season, so it makes sense to bring as many players back as possible. Davis' deal is for one year and worth $1.3175 million with just $250k guaranteed.

DT Daniel Ekuale: B-

The deal was reported by The Athletic’s Chad Graff as two years worth up to $6 million. Ekuale was a contributor in the run game last season. This deal seems likely to come with incentives.

LB Raekwon McMillan: B-

A little over one-third of McMillans’ one-year, $1.6 million contract is guaranteed. The Patriots could use one more impactful linebacker but were fine with the position group last year.

LB Mack Wilson: B-

Wilson’s deal is worth up to $2.2 million and likely comes with incentives. He was a quality special teamer who can contribute on defense.

CB Jonathan Jones: A-

Jones signed a two-year deal worth $19 million. He’s a key part of constructing New England’s secondary after the Patriots cut Jalen MIlls. He can play outside, in the slot and maybe even Devin McCourty’s old free safety role.

S Jabrill Peppers: C-

This deal, a two-year contract worth $9 million with the potential to earn $11 million, was a little rich for what Peppers contributed last season. With Kyle Dugger and Adrian Phillips already on the team, Peppers is a little redundant, and this money seems like it would have been better spent on a free safety option. Still, he could be a better player in 2023 another year removed from a torn ACL.

LS Joe Cardona: B

It’s always fun to see a long snapper contract with incentives. Cardona earned a $1 million signing bonus but otherwise has minimum base salaries. Overall, it’s a four-year, $6.3 million deal.

Departures

WR Jakobi Meyers: B-

Losing Meyers for $33 million over three years looked worse before Smith-Schuster’s deal came in. It’s a bit of a risk replacing Meyers with Smith-Schuster since the former already knows the offense.

TE Jonnu Smith: A

The Patriots found a trade partner to take some of Smith’s contract off their books. That in itself is impressive. Their grades for signing Smith in the first place or restructuring his contract last year would receive much lower marks.

QB Brian Hoyer: B

The reasoning here is still unclear. Releasing Hoyer didn’t give the Patriots substantial cap room. But if they want to get younger and add another developmental QB, it’s never a bad idea.

P Jake Bailey: B+

Like with Smith, you’d grade the Patriots’ decision to give Bailey a contract extension after a bad 2021 season and a brutal 2022 campaign a much lower score. But cutting him was a good idea based on what he produced over the last two seasons as long as they can get a punter better than Michael Palardy in 2023.

CB Jalen Mills: B

This release came as a bit of a surprise to some, but Mills wasn’t an ideal fit as an outside cornerback, missed games due to injury last season and wasn’t the best player to move into McCourty’s free safety role. If the goal is to upgrade at cornerback, then Mills might not have had a role anyway with 2022 rookies Jack Jones and Marcus Jones on the ascent.

Featured image via Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports