Is New England Patriots' Robert Kraft 'The Problem?' NFL Executives Sound Off on Free Agent Failures

After a confusing start to the offseason for the New England Patriots, anonymous NFL executives gave their opinion on the free agent failures in Foxboro.

Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo (L) and owner Robert / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

When New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said he was looking to “burn some cash” this offseason, expectations were set for a busy free-agent period. After all, coming off a disastrous 3-14 season, the Patriots needed serious reinforcements, and with nearly $100 million in cap space heading into free agency, it seemed they were primed to make big additions. 

However, with free agency seemingly in the rearview mirror, the Patriots’ offseason hasn’t lived up to the expectations set by Mayo’s ambition plans. While they have made some additions, like offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor and receiver K.J. Osborn, no deal has burned any cash. So why is that? 

While Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Mayo have recently faced those questions and given answers that essentially blamed last year’s 3-14 record and their current situation as the issue, a recent article from The Athletic’s Mike Sando revealed that some NFL executives around the league aren’t buying it.

"Kraft mentions the (state income) taxes, the quarterback, the player's girlfriend and then he mentioned the money," one anonymous executive said to Sando. "The reality is, if the dollar net taxes was higher in New England than in Tennessee, they would have gotten the player. It's like Kraft can't live in a world where he is looked at as the problem."

Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo (L) and owner Robert / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Amidst the Patriots’ unsuccessful pursuit of Calvin Ridley, Mayo shed light on the team's roster-building strategy. He suggested that the Patriots' current rebuild phase might be deterring potential big-name signings. Mayo also emphasized that owner Robert Kraft was not being frugal with the team's finances, dispelling any notions of a tight budget. 

However, even with that clarification that Kraft was willing to spend money to improve the roster, some, like Boston superfan Bill Simmons, believe that not spending big money on big-name players is the proverbial “Patriot Way.” 

"The head coach came out early in the offseason and said, 'We have a lot of money to spend, and we are going to spend it,'" another anonymous NFL executive said about the Patriots. "Then he had to walk the comment back. Then they lose out on the receiver after their GM says they have no speed on offense. So you have the two highest appointed people in the organization saying they are going to spend and they are going to prioritize speed, and then they do neither. What the hell?"

The second executive doesn’t beat around the bush when discussing the confusion surrounding the Patriots’ offseason plans. Yes, Mayo did say he wanted to “burn some cash” before later having to backpedal on that public ambition, thus creating confusion. Are the Patriots not willing to spend the money as they prefer to build another way, like the NFL Draft? Or is it because of another factor, like, for instance, the Kraft family? 

If you were to ask the Patriots, it seems the answer would be that Foxboro just isn’t a “destination” for free agents at the moment. However, if you were to ask others around the league, maybe the answer is the Patriots or Kraft isn’t willing to spend.