"Of the five biggest contracts given out in free agency this year, three went to edge-rushers, with Jaelan Phillips getting the biggest of the lot when the Carolina Panthers gave the 26-year-old a four-year, $120 million contract. Thirty million a season is a lot to give a player whose career high in sacks (8.5) came as a rookie with the Miami Dolphins in 2021."
"There's no doubt that the defense would've been better with Phillips on the roster, but it's also clear that his contract would've been a big problem at some point in his tenure."
The Patriots are expected to prioritize adding a pass rusher in the draft after failing to secure top talent in free agency. They let their most productive player leave and missed out on several key free agents, including Jaelan Phillips, who signed a large contract with the Panthers. Analysts believe the Patriots made a wise decision to avoid Phillips due to his expensive contract, which may not align with his production. While Phillips would have improved the defense, his contract could have posed future challenges.
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