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Top 10 storylines for NFL free agency

The Vikings signing Kirk Cousins will go down as one of the worst deals in NFL Free agency this year

3. The defending champ’s ideal situation

Bill Belichick and the Patriots are in a prime position heading into free agency.

It’s not a coincidence that Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have won five Super Bowls in a 17-year span. Here’s an organization that has always represented a forward-thinking mentality more so than any other in the professional sports world. That’s how you sustain success for this long of a period in the salary cap era.

Now coming off a 14-win regular season and their latest Lombardi, the Patriots head into free agency in a tremendous position. They are currently $63 million under the cap — number that will be even greater once New England either releases of forces Danny Amendola to take a pay cut (more on that here).

Now, this doesn’t mean that New England will have upwards of $70 million to spend on outside free agents. The team will have to prioritize re-signing Sebastian Vollmer, Jabaal Sheard and Martellus Bennett in free agency. That should still leave the Pats with a nice amount of cash to spend on free agents.

But as we have seen throughout the years, New England is very picky when it comes to adding top-end talent. It usually looks for veteran reclamation projects or hits the bargain-bin market. That could change in March with the possibility of adding a player at a position of weakness.

We can look at running back and wide receiver as two examples here. LeGarrette Blount is set to become a free agent and might have priced himself out of what the Pats want to spend on a player of his ilk. Meanwhile, Tom Brady could use a true No. 1 receiver to team up with Chris Hogan and Julian Edelman in the passing game.

Pure conjecture here, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see New England target Adrian Peterson (should he be made available) or Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

Then, we have the entire Jimmy Garoppolo situation. At this point, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that New England will trade him. That’s only magnified by the fact that Brady, who will be extended here soon, wants to play three-to-five more years. Add in the fact that New England might be able to acquire a couple high-round picks for Garoppolo, and this is brought to an entirely new level.

Either way we spin it, New England is in an optimal position to improve its roster. That has to be considered a scary proposition for other contenders, all of whom continue to play from behind here.

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