The New England Patriots have been one of the most successful teams in NFL history, but this offseason they are on the verge of being beaten by their own free agent class.
The Patriots free agency is a phrase that has been around for a while. It was originally used in the NFL to describe when a team would release an aging player who was not worth their current contract, so they could sign younger players with more potential.
Some players seem to be destined to play for the New England Patriots.
Some, like Mac Jones and Hunter Henry, make their way to Foxboro, while others, like Larry Fitzgerald, go their whole careers without ever playing for the Patriots. Hunter Renfrow of the Las Vegas Raiders is the most recent addition to the list.
Renfrow’s performance out of the slot was lauded by CLNS’ Evan Lazar, who not-so-subtly predicted the excellent inside receiver would get a lucrative free-agent offer from Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
That’s a vicious move out of the slot, and it has to make Patriots supporters worry whether they’re on the verge of finding Julian Edelman’s successor.
Hunter Renfrow is one of the NFL’s most underappreciated wide receivers.
Renfrow, who is just 25, had a strong first season, catching 49 passes for 605 yards and four touchdowns. In 2023, he followed up with an even stronger second season.
Renfrow had 56 receptions for 656 yards and two touchdowns. Renfrow is on track to surpass his previous two seasons’ totals in the 2023 season, which is just a week old. Renfrow has six catches for 70 yards in the Raiders’ dramatic Week 1 victory against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.
This puts him on pace for 96 catches and 1,120 yards. You’d think there’d be a few touchdowns sprinkled throughout the season. Renfrow may be poised to put up some big numbers as a favorite target for quarterback Derek Carr now that he is more comfortable with his position in Jon Gruden’s system.
Renfrow “has exceeded all expectations,” according to Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Review Journal. Graney expressed himself as follows:
He’s in his third season with the Raiders, and he’s a wide receiver/punt returner who has performed well beyond his draft position in 2019. Crazy. A team’s draft selection who has really outperformed his draft position. So there you have it. The timeframe for an NFL player’s development is far from standard. Various players progress at different speeds. Those who fall behind will not be able to complete the trip. It’s a grueling game. Those with a weak mind and physique should not apply. The importance of relationships cannot be overstated. Renfrow has developed a trusting relationship with quarterback Derek Carr, which has resulted in a higher degree of dependability. In the end, Carr has complete faith in Renfrow.
If Renfrow has a breakthrough year in 2023, you can guarantee he’ll be courted by a slew of teams when he reaches free agency.
Hunter Renfrow is set to become a free agent in the near future.
Renfrow will be a free agent after next season, according to Spotrac, in case you were wondering. In the first season of his new deal, he’ll be 28 years old.
Although this isn’t the best age for free agency, a three-year contract for Renfrow might make a lot of sense for the Patriots. If Lazar is right, Belichick will attempt to strike a deal with the receiver that he won’t be able to reject. Don’t expect the Raiders to give up Renfrow without a fight if he continues to play well.
