The New England Patriots will have a long list of free agents at the end of the season, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
Edge defenders Jabaal Sheard, Rob Ninkovich, and Chris Long will need deals. Defensive tackles Alan Branch and Terrance Knighton will be free agents. Linebackers Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower, and Jonathan Freeny will be up for contracts. Cornerbacks Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler will be unrestricted and restricted free agents, respectively. Safety Duron Harmon will also be a free agent.
And that’s okay because the Patriots will have a ton of cap space to use in 2017- and they can just that space to sign players now.