New England Patriots links 3/09/21 - OL Combination lock: Trent Brown back on the line

TEAM TALK

• Mike Dussault passes along a report the Patriots re-acquire tackle Trent Brown.
• Mike Dussault examines the Patriots free agency landscape with a look at the wide receivers.
• Mike Dussault profiles the 25 best external free agent Patriots fits.
• Mike Dussault tackles this week’s Patriots Unfiltered Q&A: Bracing for the free agency storm; More.
• Key dates on the 2021 NFL / Patriots calendar.
• From the NFL: The history of NFL Free Agency.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss lays out the Trent Brown returning to New England one-year deal.
• Matt Dolloff analyzes the Trent Brown domino effect.
• Doug Kyed explores the possible O-Line combination options are after the Trent Brown trade.
• Matthew Geagan looks at the options along the offensive line with the Pats reacquiring Trent Brown.
• Ryan Hannable explains how the return of Trent Brown could signal a major shake-up along the offensive line.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) What the Trent Brown trade means for New England’s roster.
• Alex Barth believes retaining David Andrews should be a priority for the Patriots: Where does David Andrews rank among the Pats’ most important free agents? And what will it cost the team to bring him back?
• Ryan Hannable passes along an Adam Schefter report that Joe Thuney likely won’t get the franchise tag.
• Zack Cox thumbnails eight tight ends the Patriots could target in free agency to help fill a major offseason need.
• Alex Barth looks at some potential internal trade candidates for the Patriots.
• Mike Luciano (MusketFire) The perfect free agent signings for New England’s top needs.
• Zack Cox explains why signing Nick Folk should be a no-brainer for the Pats.
• Nick Stevens thumbnails 5 Patriots who need to step up in 2021. 1. Cam Newton (just kidding) N’Keal Harry.
• Zack Cox continues his breakdown of the top potential veteran QB options for the Pats with a look at QB Jimmy Garoppolo: How realistic is a reunion?
• John Sariandes (NEFootballJournal) Patriots Draft, 60 players in 60 days: Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II - USC OT Alijah Vera-Tucker. /More profiles in this series on-site.
• CBS Boston mentions under-the-radar prospect Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond who might be available for the Patriots
• Zack Cox notes the Patriots have had multiple pre-draft meetings with Clemson WR Amari Rodgers.
• Sean T. McGuire notes ESPN names James White the most “underrated” free-agent running back.
• Adam London highlights PFF analyst Sam Monson who thinks Joe Thuney is an “overrated” free agent.
• Adam London thinks OT Trent Brown is happy to be back in New England with his latest Tweet, “Money don’t mean (expletive) if you ain’t happy I swear to GOD!!”
• Zack Cox relays Shaq Mason celebrating the Trent Brown trade report on Twitter.
• Ricky Doyle questions PFF’s latest mock draft, with the Dolphins’ pursuit of Deshaun Watson opening the door for the Patriots acquiring QB Tua Tagovailoa.
• Tom E. Curran tries to shame Bill Belichick - now that it’s been two full seasons without a Super Bowl Championship - for not confessing to the media that he messed up on not keeping Tom Brady, not having a QB succession plan, not having viable tight ends, etc...
• Phil Perry takes another stab at a two-round mock draft: Pats pick Michigan DE Kwity Paye at 15, and Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore at 46.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Fitzy presents “Bill Belichick’s agent.” (3.13 min. video)
• The New England Football Show: John Sarianides and Kevin Stone talk with Miguel Benzan (@PatsCap) to talk the opt-outs returning and all things Patriots salary cap. (1 hour video) /Miguel makes cap talk informative & enjoyable.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike and Murph discuss the Pats’ options at RB and TE in the draft plus the rumors surrounding Jimmy Garoppolo being “Plan A” for the Pats at QB. (50 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Afternoon QB: We’re still waiting on the salary cap as the franchise tag deadline arrives; Plus, what does the future hold for Trent Williams and Von Miller, which players may be expected to step into bigger roles and why hasn’t the booth umpire been instituted already?
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Patriots, Raiders swap late-round picks in Trent Brown trade.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Report: Patriots are not expected to tag Joe Thuney.
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) 2021 NFL free agency: Elite wide receivers headline top 20 skill-position players.
• Conor Orr (SI) Dak Prescott didn’t cave and it paid off.
• Alain Poupart (SI-Dolphins) QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has not given up on the idea of playing again in 2021.
• Grant Gordon (NFL.com) Titans trade first-round pick Isaiah Wilson to Dolphins. /Huh. I thought the Pats were the only team whose draft picks don’t work out.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) NFL franchise tag tracker: Who’s getting paid for 2021; what’s next.
• Staff (OverTheCap) The basics and methodology of projecting the NFL’s compensatory draft picks.
• Michael McCann (Sportico) A new court filing Monday in Bret Bielema’s $7 million litigation against the Razorback Foundation contains the potential bombshell that Bill Belichick thought he was overpaying, not underpaying, the former Razorbacks head coach when he worked for the Patriots in 2018-19.
• Jarrett Bell (USA Today) NFL owners keep rejecting Black head-coaching candidates. Is it time for legal action?