The New England Patriots continue to be the model franchise that other teams try to mold themselves after. The only thing is, the Patriots are still able to do things differently that separates them from the rest of the pack.
The Patriots recently acquired Michael Bennett from the Philadelphia Eagles. The trade involves a 2020 fifth-round pick headed to the Eagles and Bennett plus a seventh-round pick in 2020 to New England.
Why is this trade so substantial? With the Patriots likely to lose Trey Flowers in free agency, it gives them a solid replacement while not ruining their compensatory pick chances.
What does that mean? If a team signs Flowers to a large contract, as expected, the Patriots will likely land a third-round compensatory pick for losing him.
They also don't ruin their chances by acquiring Bennett because he was traded to them, not signed in free agency. The Patriots are playing chess while the rest of the league is playing checkers.
This isn't the first time in recent years that the Patriots have used this tactic to replace an impending free agent.
How the #Patriots operate:
2017: Lose Nate Solder -> Trade for Trent Brown as replacement -> Get 3rd round compensatory pick.
2018: Lose Trey Flowers (likely) -> Trade for Michael Bennett as replacement -> Get 3rd round compensatory pick.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 8, 2019
On that list, the Patriots could also receive a compensatory pick for Trent Brown this offseason. Similarly to Flowers, it depends on how much he signs for if he leaves for another team.
In the Bennett trade, the Patriots will lose a fifth-round pick but gain a seventh-round selection. They will also receive a third-round pick for Flowers next season as long as he signs elsewhere.
In conclusion, this means that the Patriots essentially traded a fifth-round pick for Bennett, a seventh-round pick, and a third-round pick.
This genius method has landed the Patriots the most draft picks in the 2019 NFL Draft with 12. Not many NFL teams have been able to use this same strategy as effectively.
It takes smarts and wittiness to pull off this maneuver. Although, you do have to be careful about how you approach free agency.
For instance, New England will not target any pass rushers in free agency that will garner similar compensation as Flowers.
If they did, New England would take themselves out of consideration for that third-round compensatory pick. Bill Belichick knows better than that.
Doesn't Belichick always know best? When it comes to the draft, it is a resounding yes. The Patriots have drafted well for almost two decades under Belichick.
The Patriots tend to let their pricy impending free agents hit the open market. But when you draft well, it doesn't make much of a difference in the end.
Players usually don't perform as well after leaving New England. Nonetheless, the Patriots get compensatory picks out of it so it doesn't matter to them. The Patriots just become a never ending cycle of good talent and then they let guys walk. It becomes a constant cycle of rinse, then repeat.
This is what keeps the Patriots churning at such a high level. They have a quarterback who plays on a team-friendly deal and then find skilled role players to go alongside him.
If the Patriots sign a free agent or player on their team to a large contract, then you know that player is worth it. Stephon Gilmore is the first one who comes to mind.
New England decided to give Gilmore a five-year, $65 million contract in 2017. Gilmore was crucial to New England securing their sixth ring in Super Bowl 53.
The Patriots won the game 13-3, holding a high-powered Los Angeles Rams offense to just three points. If Julian Edelman didn't wind up with MVP, it would've been Gilmore.
While the rest of the NFL blows their money on unneeded free agents, New England will continue to play the compensatory pick game. The way compensatory picks are viewed continue to change due to this.
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