NFL New England Patriots

5 New England Patriots Players Who Won’t Be Back Next Season

Fresh Videos

By @petahrahgas

5 Patriots Players Who Won’t Be Back Next Season

Patrick Chung
Getty Images

Sunday marks the last game of the regular season and with it brings the offseason for some and the postseason for others. While the Patriots are headed to the postseason, here’s an early look at five upcoming free agents who won’t be back with the team next year.

5. DL Alan Branch

Alan Branch
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

5. DL Alan Branch

Alan Branch
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Branch was brought in this season to help fill Sealver Siliga’s spot when he went down for a large part of the season. While Branch has been stout against the run and able to get a strong push into the backfield, Siliga is healthy now and offers more than Branch as a pass rusher. Branch is also an older player, and the Patriots will look for a younger run stopper on the line to fill his spot.

4. LB Jonathan Casillas

Jonathan Casillas
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

4. LB Jonathan Casillas

Jonathan Casillas
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

When Jerod Mayo went on IR for the season, the Patriots brought in two linebackers via trade, Akeem Ayers from the Titans and Jonathan Casillas from the Buccaneers. Both are free agents at the end of this year, but Ayers has proven himself to be a strong pass rusher and will likely be re-signed. Casillas is a good special teams player, but the Patriots have plenty of young linebackers on their practice squad who can fill his shoes.

3. OL Dan Connolly

Dan Connolly
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

3. OL Dan Connolly

Dan Connolly
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Dan Connolly is currently the fourth-longest tenured Patriots on the team (behind Brady, Wilfork and Gostkowski), but this is his last ride with the team. He’s 33, injured and the playing like the worst guard in the league this year. The Patriots obviously need to improve their offensive line this offseason, and Connolly is going to be first in line to be replaced.

2. S Patrick Chung

Patrick Chung
Getty Images

2. S Patrick Chung

Patrick Chung
Getty Images

When the Patriots first signed Chung this past offseason, I thought for sure he wouldn’t make it past training camp. But surprisingly he did and is having arguably his best season in football. But with both Duron Harmon and Tavon Wilson younger options at safety, my guess is the Patriots try to go young and see what they have by letting Chung enter free agency.

1. RB Shane Vereen

Shane Vereen
Getty Images

1. RB Shane Vereen

Shane Vereen
Getty Images

Both Vereen and Stevan Ridley’s rookie contracts end this season. I think the Patriots will give Ridley a cheap, one year, prove it contract coming off ACL surgery to see what he can do. Vereen has admirably filled the role Danny Woodhead made famous in New England, but the Patriots’ offense hasn’t really figured out how to use him as a runner. With James White on roster, don’t be surprised if Patriots let Vereen walk.

Peter Rogers is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @petahrahgas, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

Share Tweet
Trending Now on