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The Patriots have had a chaotic start to free agency this week, making several big name signings before the new league year began on Wednesday, but have settled down as the week continued. For the most part, nearly every signing has been to boost the defense, which needed to be massively improved from last season, leaving the offense more questionable as more quality players get signed elsewhere.
While there are still some solid options for the new regime to consider, their latest signing is another player from the defense with ties to Josh McDaniels, which seems to be an underlying factor for many who have already been welcomed to Foxboro.
Instead of continuing the focus on the defensive line, this time the Patriots signed a veteran free safety who spent the 2024 season on the shelf due to an ACL injury. Marcus Epps, who McDaniels signed to the Raiders in 2023, signed a one-year deal worth up to $4.4 million.
On the surface, it’s just another signing of a veteran player with ties to the new regime. But there’s a lot more to Epps, making him an invaluable addition to the locker room.
The Patriots signing Marcus Epps proves even further they’re prioritizing building a new culture in New England
The need for a culture shift after Robert Kraft chose to move on from Bill Belichick in 2024 was imperative for the Patriots, which is what seemed like Jerod Mayo was attempting to do during his lone season as the head coach.
He ran into problems, however, by seemingly trying to do anything he could to not be like his mentor and former coach. This inevitably led to significant problems behind the scenes and, at one point, brought on rumors of a “mutiny” growing behind the scenes.
So, seeing Mike Vrabel and Co. make it a priority to bring in the right players with the right attitude is not at all surprising, especially when revisiting what McDaniels had to say about Epps when he signed him to the Raiders in 2023.
Josh McDaniels on Marcus Epps, in September 2023:
“He’s been a really good, positive leader for our entire defense, our secondary, our safety group since he walked in the door. He just has a presence about him. He’s very mature. He’s intelligent. He understands the entirety of…
— Oliver Thomas (@OliverBThomas) March 14, 2025
If that’s not the kind of player the Patriots need in their locker room, than what is?
So far, the players they have signed have said all the right things in their introductions to the media over the last two days and it’s clear there will be an entirely new vibe at Gillette Stadium, one the fans can get excited about again.
These players not only want to be a part of the Patriots right now and in the future, but they have their minds in the right place and have deep knowledge of the game to really help put the team over the top in the long-term. They are shades of players Belichick loved to bring on, which is the kind of change the roster needs moving forward.